The Sealdah Court in Kolkata is poised to deliver its first verdict today in the tragic case of the alleged rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate medical trainee at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The incident, which occurred on 9 August, sparked nationwide protests and raised concerns over the safety of medical professionals.
The judgement will be pronounced by Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das, 57 days after the trial began on 12 November. Conducted in-camera, the trial examined 50 witnesses, with hearings concluding on 9 January.
The accused and arrest
Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata police, is the primary accused. Arrested on 10 August, a day after the victim’s body was discovered in the hospital's seminar room, Roy was identified using a Bluetooth earphone found near the body.
CCTV footage revealed him entering the seminar hall with the device.
Investigation and court intervention
The case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Calcutta High Court, following criticism of the local police and state government’s handling of the incident.
The CBI has sought the death penalty for Roy. The agency also arrested former RG Kar principal Sandeep Ghosh and Tala police officer Abhijeet Mondal on allegations of evidence tampering.
Both were later released on bail after the CBI failed to file chargesheets within the mandated 90 days.
Public and judicial response
The crime triggered widespread protests, with doctors demanding a national law to ensure their safety. Civil society members organised candlelight marches under the banner “Reclaim the Night.”
Kolkata’s rival football clubs—East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan Sporting—joined the movement.
Joint Platform of Doctors (JPD), an umbrella group of medical associations, criticised the investigation’s pace. The victim's parents maintained their stance that multiple individuals were involved in the crime, citing the DNA report as evidence.
"We will get a good judgement after the court looks at and considers everything… The DNA report also established the presence of others (other accused),” the victim’s father said.
The Supreme Court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the incident, forming a National Task Force (NTF) to draft safety protocols for medical professionals.
The NTF submitted its recommendations to the Apex Court in November 2024.