Kolkata Court Sentences Traffic Volunteer to Life Imprisonment for Rape and Murder of Junior Doctor
A sessions court in Kolkata sentenced Sanjay Roy, a former traffic police volunteer, to life imprisonment for raping and murdering a 31-year-old junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024. Judge Anirban Das, in his 172-page verdict, declined the prosecution’s demand for the death penalty, citing Supreme Court guidelines that capital punishment is reserved for the "rarest of rare" cases.
The court emphasized the importance of justice over public sentiment, stating, “We must rise above the primitive instinct of an eye for an eye.” The verdict noted that while Roy’s acts were “barbaric and brutal,” there remained a possibility of reformation, making life imprisonment a proportionate sentence.
Roy was convicted under sections 64 (rape), 66 (causing injury resulting in death of rape victim), and 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Section 103(1) allows for either the death penalty or life imprisonment, while Section 66 mandates imprisonment of at least 20 years, and Section 64 recommends a minimum of 10 years, extendable to life. Roy, who pleaded innocence and claimed coercion during custody, was also fined ₹1 lakh.
The court ordered the state to compensate the victim’s family ₹17 lakh — ₹7 lakh for rape and ₹10 lakh for murder. The victim’s parents, who had previously declined compensation, expressed their grief in court but stood firm in their demand for justice over reparation.
The case, which sparked nationwide protests and a 10-week junior doctors' strike, highlighted security lapses in educational and medical institutions. Demonstrations concluded only after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assured reforms in the health sector.
The judge cited overwhelming evidence, including CCTV footage, DNA reports, and Roy’s contradictory statements, as proof of his guilt. Describing the crime scene — a seminar room at the college — the court noted that Roy had raped and then smothered the victim to death.
Acknowledging public outrage, the prosecution pushed for the death penalty, arguing the crime had eroded societal confidence. However, the court stressed its duty to deliver justice based on law, not emotions, reiterating its commitment to upholding the integrity of the legal system.
