RG Kar Rape-Murder: Sealdah Court Sentences Sanjay Roy to Life Imprisonment, Imposes Fine

A Sealdah court in West Bengal has handed down life term and a fine of INR 50,000 to Sanjay Roy for raping and murdering a trainee female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The victim's father had demanded the maximum punishment-the death penalty -which the judge had stated in his earlier comment on January 18. Instead, the court decided on a life term that is the minimum punishment provided under the law.
Although the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concluded its probe into the alleged tampering and alteration of evidence in the case, it will continue its probe despite the conclusion of Roy's sentencing on Monday.
Case Background
Body Found in Seminar Hall: The body of the trainee doctor was found on August 9 last year in a seminar hall on the RG Kar Medical College campus.
The investigation into the case was initially dealt with by the Special Investigation Team of Kolkata Police and Roy was arrested. It has been reported that five days after the murder, the investigation was taken over by CBI to which the city police handed over the arrested Roy.
Timeline of Trial: The hearing began on 11th of last November. And the judgement came 59 days after starting the trial; thereby completing the process of conviction within 162 days of committing the crime.
While addressing the court, the counsel of CBI insisted that enough proof was given which included the fact that the victim was on 36-hour shift duty when he was assaulted and murdered. He made it clear to the court that all the proofs were pointing directly towards Roy. The defense kept trying to prove him innocent.
Statement of Chief Minister
Before the verdict, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that her government had fully cooperated with the investigation and sought justice for the victim. She acknowledged that the judiciary's due process takes time but reaffirmed that the government's priority was to ensure the victim's family received the justice they deserved.