With several critical questions still unanswered, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday sought a detailed report from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), even after a lower court convicted the main accused — a former civic volunteer of the Kolkata Police — in the murder of a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Despite the conviction of civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, who was arrested by the Kolkata Police and named the sole accused in the first CBI chargesheet, the victim’s family has consistently expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation. They allege that more individuals were involved in the crime and have demanded the arrest of the remaining accused.
In response to ongoing concerns, the Central Bureau of Investigation recently submitted its third ‘status report’ to the Sealdah court, which pronounced its verdict.
According to sources, this report highlights the recording of 12 new witness statements and analysis of over 200 video clips. The previous reports submitted to the court mentioned that the statements of 24 new persons had been recorded and additional CCTV footage from the hospital premises was under review. Call records of three more individuals were also being examined.
Yet, even after these developments, several key questions remain unresolved which include the timeline of the crime, demolition of a room adjacent to the scene of crime and entry and exit clarity.
The victims family alleged the CCTV footage indicates the crime occurred between 4:03 am and 4:38 am. “The victim, who was 5 feet 1 inch tall, sustained severe injuries. Investigators are yet to confirm whether such injuries could have been inflicted within that 35-minute window,” said the father of the deceased doctor.
Besides, after the High Court ordered a CBI probe, the wall of the room adjacent to the seminar room, where the brutal crime took place, was abruptly broken down. Investigators have not explained the reason behind the demolition, who ordered it, or its intended purpose.
“The first room in the corridor where the incident took place had two doors forcibly broken, a detail mentioned in the lower court’s verdict. Yet, it remains unclear whether anyone saw the accused entering or exiting that space,” the father pointed out, adding, “The CBI stated that Sanjay was under the influence of intoxicants at the time. Doubts have been raised about whether he could have committed such a brutal act alone and whether the victim attempted to defend herself.”
Given these lingering uncertainties, the Calcutta High Court has stressed the need for further clarity. A judge noted that while the trial has proceeded in the lower court and one person has been convicted, the details surrounding the framing of charges are not entirely clear. In light of this, the court has requested a fresh report from the CBI to determine if re-investigation is warranted.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 16. Until then, questions about the full scope of the crime and the involvement of others continue to overshadow the verdict, keeping the demand for justice from the victim’s family alive.
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