Sanjay Roy Sentenced in RG Kar Case: Court to Pronounce Quantum of Punishment Today

Kolkata, January 20: A Kolkata court will pronounce the quantum of punishment for Sanjay Roy, convicted of raping and murdering a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, today. The sentencing comes a day after Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das yesterday delivered his verdict in Sealdah, convicting Roy of the dastardly crime that had shaken the nation.

Sanjay Roy is the former civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, and he was arrested on August 10 last year. As his arrest comes nearly a day after the 31-year-old doctor’s body was found in the hospital seminar room, all crimes were committed on August 9, 2024, which brought out widespread outrage and made the protests sustained nationwide on the issue of safety for women, especially in their workplaces.

Roy has been convicted under Sections 64, 66, and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that deals with rape and murder. Charges under this are held to attract very heavy punishments, ranging from life imprisonment to capital punishment.

On Saturday, the judge ruled that Sanjay Roy was guilty of the evidence presented which indicated he sexually assaulted and strangled the victim into death. The incident happened when the doctor is on shift, making the public even angrier, as this can be seen as breaking the trust and safety in a state-run facility.

This brought to the forefront the systemic problems with women’s safety, especially within healthcare institutions. Medical professionals and women’s rights groups protested all over the country, demanding justice and stronger measures to prevent such crimes.

Speaking to reporters, a representative of the West Bengal Medical Association said, “This case is a wake-up call for ensuring the safety of our medical professionals. Justice must be swift and uncompromising.”

Awaiting the sentence

The court is expected to declare the quantum of punishment this afternoon. Legal experts argue that the quantum of punishment may be higher since the severity of the crime is coupled with a strong public demand for justice.

The families of the victim and the convicted, lawyers, and activists are all at the court. The country awaits the verdict with the hope that it will provide a resolution that reinstills faith in the system and will serve as a deterrent for such crimes in the future. Stay tuned for further updates as the court delivers its decision.