Kolkata: The Sealdah court in Kolkata is set to pronounce its verdict on the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital today. Sanjay Roy is the main accused in the case, which triggered outrage and prolonged protests by doctors in the state and the country.
A day before the verdict, the victim’s parents alleged that the probe is “half-done”, claiming others involved in the horrific crime are still free.
Here are the key points of the RG Kar rape-murder case:
- The victim’s parents have vowed to continue their fight for justice for their daughter, whose body was discovered in the seminar room of a state-run hospital on August 9, 2024.
- Observations made by the special court judge may shed light on allegations of evidence tampering during the initial investigation conducted by the Kolkata Police.
- The case was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Calcutta High Court. During its investigation, the CBI filed a single chargesheet naming Sanjay Roy as the “sole prime accused” in the rape and murder case.
- Sanjay Roy was initially arrested by the Kolkata Police a day after the victim’s body was found in the seminar hall of the hospital. The CBI later arrested the former principal, Sandip Ghosh, and former local police station officer, Abhijit Mondal, on charges of tampering with and altering evidence.
- However, both were granted “default bail” by the special court after the CBI failed to submit a supplementary chargesheet within 90 days of their arrests.
- The process of framing charges against Sanjay Roy was completed on November 4, 2024, and the trial commenced on November 11.
- The trial was conducted in-camera, with statements from 50 witnesses, including the victim’s parents, investigating officers from both the CBI and Kolkata Police, forensic experts, and some of the victim’s colleagues and fellow doctors.
- Allegations of evidence tampering gained traction after a mob vandalised the emergency department of RG Kar Hospital on August 14, 2024.
- The incident occurred as thousands took to the streets of West Bengal and across the country, uniting representatives from the medical profession, civil society, and the general public to demand justice.
