The mother of Sanjoy Roy, convicted for the rape and murder of a medical student of R G Kar Medical College, said on Sunday she accepts his punishment as a matter of destiny.
"If he deserves hanging, I will cry alone but accept it," Malati Roy told reporters outside her modest home on Shambhunath Pandit Street.
The Sealdah Court had pronounced Roy guilty on January 18. Despite her advanced age and poor health, the 70-year-old stood firm in her belief in justice.
"As a woman and a mother of daughters, I feel the anguish of the victim’s mother. The court’s decision is the law’s voice, and I accept it," she said.
‘No objection to his punishment’
Malati, initially reluctant to face the media, acknowledged that she had never attended court hearings or met her son since his incarceration.
"I would have visited if the charges had been false, but why should I now?" she questioned.
Sanjay, one of Malati’s four children, had three sisters—one of whom died years ago. One of his elder sisters, speaking anonymously, also supported the court’s verdict.
"If the court has found him guilty, he must face the consequences. We will not challenge the order," she remorsed.
The sister, who resides at her in-laws’ home near Bhawanipore, added, "We are shattered. Please leave us alone."
Reluctance and Stigma
Recounting her childhood memories of Sanjoy, she said he was once like any ordinary boy but had succumbed to alcoholism as he grew older.
"I never saw him misbehave with women, but I have been out of contact with him for years," she admitted.
The family has been living under a cloud of stigma since Sanjay’s arrest.
"Neighbours and relatives point fingers at us. What my brother did is unthinkable. I hope this clears the air," said the elder sister, with her face partially veiled in a dupatta.
The court’s decision has brought closure for some, but the victim’s family and the community at large continue to grapple with the harrowing crime.
Follow us
