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RG Kar Rape-Murder Victim's Parents Allege Police Destroyed Evidence

The parents of the RG Kar rape and murder victim believe that there was more than one perpetrator in the crime. They recently alleged that the hospital administration and police destroyed evidence and shielded conspirators.

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Tanya Savkoor
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The parents of the RG Kar rape and murder victim recently alleged that the hospital administration and police destroyed evidence. Days after one accused - Sanjay Roy - was sentenced to life imprisonment, the victim's family criticised the West Bengal government for allegedly 'shielding the main conspirators.' Targeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the grieving mother said in an interview with a Bengali TV channel, "The CM cannot disown the failure of Kolkata Police, hospital and the administration."

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Five months after the rape and murder of the 31-year-old woman, the Sealdah sessions court sentenced accused Sanjay Roy to life on January 20, according to Live Law. However, amid calls for the death penalty, the Supreme Court of India heard a suo motu plea on January 23. Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan considered a plea for capital punishment and also heard the victim's parents' petition for a deeper probe into the case.

The victim's family questioned the completion of the Central Bureau of Investigation's probe, alleging that it did not act on the issue of alleged suppression of facts. They are also seeking stricter punishment for Roy, reports said.

RG Kar Rape-Murder Case

On August 9, 2024, a postgraduate trainee of RG Kar's chest medicine department was found dead in the seminar hall. Autopsy reports confirmed that the victim was raped and murdered. The cause of death was ruled as 'strangulation'. After an initial investigation by the Kolkata Police, Sanjay Roy was arrested on August 10.

The CBI took charge of the case on August 23. According to their chargesheet, Roy, a civic volunteer, is the sole accused. The Central agency sought capital punishment, relying on forensic evidence including DNA and toxicology reports that reportedly linked him to the crime. 

On January 18, sessions Court Judge Anirban Das announced Roy as guilty. However, the victim's family have their uncertainties about the completion of the CBI probe. The deceased doctor's colleagues and friends insist that Roy was not the sole perpetrator of the crime. They have also alleged evidence tampering.

  • Jan 25, 2025 11:46 IST

    Victim's family alleges CM helped police, hospital admin shield conspirator

    The rape-murder victim's family said in a recent media interview that the West Bengal government must take responsibility for the police and hospital administration's alleged attempt to destroy evidence. The bereaved parents allege that the authorities are concealing "the main conspirator" in the case. 

    The deceased doctor's mother said that the Trinamool Congress government played an "active role in hushing up the ghastly incident so that truth does not come to light." Speaking to a Bengali TV channel, she said, "The CM cannot disown the failure of Kolkata Police, hospital and the administration."

    She also criticised the CBI, alleging that the investigators did not act on the issue of alleged suppression of facts. "These matters were not properly addressed by CBI despite our testimony to the agency," the victim's father said, accusing both CBI and Kolkata Police of holding a shoddy investigation "to shield some people."



  • Jan 22, 2025 09:58 IST

    Supreme Court to hear suo motu plea

    The apex court of India will reportedly hear a suo motu plea on January 23, amid backlash over the Sealdah court's judgment. As calls for the death penalty rose, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan, decided to take up the case, according to Financial Express. The Court will consider a plea for capital punishment and also hear the victim's parents petition for a deeper probe into the case.



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  • Jan 20, 2025 15:02 IST

    'We want death penalty': Victim's family

    After Sanjay Roy was sentenced to life imprisonment, the victim's family reportedly said that they wanted a harsher punishment. According to India TV, their lawyer said, "I want the death sentence as maximum punishment..." Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that her administration has cooperated with the investigation and they always wanted the victim to get justice.

     



  • Jan 20, 2025 14:57 IST

    Sanjay Roy sentenced to life imprisonment

    Sanjay Roy was sentenced to life imprisonment by the sessions court judge, according to Live Law. He was also ordered to pay a fine of ₹50,000, while the West Bengal government was directed to provide ₹17 lakh as compensation to the victim’s family. Explaining the penalties of the section, Judge Anirban Das said to the accused, "I told you the previous day the charges you were convicted against and the charges that have been proven against you." The Court viewed that the crime does not qualify as a 'rarest of the rare' case.

    Judge Das said, "Even if it is a rarest of rare cases, there should be scope for reformation. The court has to show why the convict is not worth reformation or rehabilitation... The public prosecutor has to present evidence and give reasons why the person is not worth reformation and should be completely eliminated from society..."

    However, Roy claimed his innocence and pleaded not guilty before the sentencing. He said, "I have been framed without any reason. I told you before that I always wear a Rudraksha chain. If I had committed the crime, it would have broken at the crime scene. I was not allowed to speak. They forced me to sign many papers."

    He added, "I was not given a chance to speak. You have seen all of this, sir. I told you before as well. I have not done anything, neither rape nor murder. I am being falsely implicated. You have seen everything. I am innocent. I already told you that I was tortured. They made me sign whatever they wanted."



  • Jan 20, 2025 14:44 IST

    We have faith in judge, says victim's parents

    The rape and murder victim's mother said in a statement, "We will not allow the investigation to be suppressed, we will take away the justice. My daughter will get justice for the people of the state, the people of the world, the people of the country and all those who are protesting. We have put our question in the High Court and we will get that answer from the Court. We have faith in the judge."

    The victim's father said they are hoping the accused gets the harshest punishment. "He (accused Sanjay Roy) tried to speak on Saturday, the court asked him to speak on Monday. We don't know what he will say. He is a criminal, there are other people involved with him...he should get the harshest punishment," he said, according to Asian News International.

    The sentencing is at 2:45 p.m.

     



  • Jan 20, 2025 12:42 IST

    Quantum of punishment to be announced today; What did CM Mamata Banerjee say?

    The quantum of punishment is set to be declared on January 20 at the Sealdah sessions court. Amid tight security arrangements, the accused, Sanjay Roy, has been produced in court and will reportedly be allowed to speak first. Nearly 500 policemen have been deployed to prevent any untoward incident, Asian News International reported.

    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reportedly refused to comment on the sentencing. "I had earlier demanded the death penalty, but it depends on the judge and how the case has been framed," she reportedly told the media. "We have cooperated with the investigation...we had demanded justice but judiciary had to run its course so that's why it took this much time but we always wanted the victim to get justice," she added.



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  • Jan 18, 2025 16:39 IST

    Victim's family, colleagues believe more perpetrators involved

    As Judge Anirban Das declared Sanjay Roy guilty, the victim's father broke down in court and expressed, "You have honoured the faith that I reposed in you." However, the bereaved family and the victim's colleagues believe the fight is not over yet, as they assert there are more perpetrators in this crime. 

    Dr Aniket Mahato, a junior doctor from RG Kar Hospital told Asian News International, "What we have been saying from day one is that this man is a civic volunteer. How did he manage to enter the medical college and commit such a heinous crime? Evidence was tampered with, and destruction occurred, as noted in the CBI chargesheet. For whom was this done? To protect Sanjay Roy? How can we believe this?" The junior doctors insist that there are more culprits involved in this case. Dr Mahato added, "Our fight will continue because this is not just one person; justice hasn't been served yet, this is just the first step."

    Even CPI-M leader Brinda Karat added that there is a 'corrupt nexus' behind Sanjay Roy, "Everyone knows Sanjay Roy is guilty but who are the powers behind him?... The government, the principal (of RG Kar) and the entire administration are guilty because of whom such an incident took place," she told ANI.



  • Jan 18, 2025 14:41 IST

    Sealdah court declares Sanjay Roy guilty

    Sanjay Roy, the prime accused in the RG Kar rape and murder, has been found guilty by the Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court. The bench was headed by Judge Anirban Das. The judge said, "I have criticised some activities of the police and hospital authorities which came out in the evidence. Activities of the HoD, MSVP and Principal created some confusion and that has been criticised."

    Sanjay Roy was found guilty under Sections 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning rape; Sections 66 and 103 (1) of the Act, which deals with punishments for death and murder; and Section 103 (1) of BNS entails a maximum punishment of death or life imprisonment.

    Justice Anirban Das told Sanjay Roy in court, "You have been accused of attacking the victim in the RG Kar Hospital, throttled and strangulated her to death. You have sexually assaulted her. Charges have been framed. After taking into account the witnesses and documents, it has been proved. The court finds you guilty."

    The accused responded, "I have been falsely implicated. I have not done this. Those who have done so are being let go. One IPS was involved... I always wear a chain of rudraksh on my neck. If I committed the crime, my chain would have been broken at the place of occurrence. I can’t commit this crime." The sentencing will be held on January 20. 



  • Jan 18, 2025 14:14 IST

    'Entire country is eagerly waiting': Indian Medical Association chief

    Dr Vinay Agrawal, Chairman Action Committee of the Indian Medical Association spoke on behalf of medical professionals in India. He said, "Not only we, but the entire country is eagerly waiting for the judgment. Justice should be done for our doctor. A lady doctor in a prominent medical college of a prominent state, the oldest medical college, was brutally raped, murdered brutally. And in the government premises, in the hospital premises, when she was on duty, it enraged the entire country, not only the medical profession."

    He also recounted the nationwide outrage the case stirred. "You have seen that the entire city was burning, Bengal was burning, and other states were burning. All medical colleges were shut down. Indian Medical Association also gave a call for this thing. Stringent punishment should be given to the accused."

     



  • Jan 18, 2025 14:12 IST

    'Not only the doctors but the entire population has been insulted': Union Minister of State

    Banwari Lal Verma, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader and the current Minister of State accused the West Bengal government of taking "no appropriate action for a long time" regarding the rape and murder case. He told the Indo-Asian News Service, "Not only the doctors but the entire population of 140 crore people has been insulted. While West Bengal may not take the right action, the judiciary will not forgive, and the guilty will be punished severely"

     



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  • Jan 18, 2025 14:08 IST

    Evidence was destroyed, says BJP leader

    Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shehzad Poonawalla claimed that the "evidence was destroyed" and the ruling Trinamool Congress government "protected and promoted the hospital principal" instead of taking action. Speaking to Asian News International, he said, "The verdict will come today, but, the public and the protesting doctors will decide whether justice was served or not. It was their sense and feeling that more than one person was involved in the case."

    Earlier today, West Bengal Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari said, "We are hopeful that strict actions will be taken by the judiciary. We should have examples so that such incidents never occur but we suspect that this was not the doing of only one person and many people were involved. The West Bengal government, health department, and the state police are also involved. We request the CBI to explore the case more and those who committed the crime and those who tried to hide the evidence should also be punished."

    This morning, a TMC leader demanded capital punishment for the accused, Sanjay Roy. 



  • Jan 18, 2025 14:01 IST

    'Don’t think only one person is involved': NCW former chief Rekha Sharma

    Rekha Sharma, the former chairperson of the National Commission for Women told the news agency, Asian News International, "...I don't think only one person is involved in this case. Those who have committed financial misconduct in this case are definitely involved in this case, even the murder. The court will take action against those people and give them the harshest punishment..."



  • Jan 18, 2025 13:58 IST

    Accused brought to Sealdah court

    Sanjay Roy, the sole accused in the rape and murder case so far, has arrived at the Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court in Kolkata. 



  • Jan 18, 2025 12:51 IST

    Don't end stir for justice, appeals victim's mother

    Just a few moments before the verdict, the victim's mother made an appeal on social media, urging people not to end the fight. “If the dreams of our deceased daughter do not get justice, her life-long achievements would become fruitless. We pray that no girl faces such pain which my daughter faced. All those who are responsible should not be spared at any cost. They should be punished so that no other daughter faces the same pain like ours,” she said in the statement, according to The Tribune.

    She added, "The real justice will be achieved only when all the masterminds behind the crime are brought within the ambit of the investigation and punished. We all should raise the demand not for just the sake of my daughter but for the sake of security of all the daughters... As a mother, all I can say is that I have lost everything. But I will continue my fight for other daughters till justice is achieved."



  • Jan 18, 2025 12:03 IST

    All India Medical Association demands capital punishment

    The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) reportedly demanded the death penalty for Sanjay Roy on January 18. According to Asian News International, FAIMA's Chief Patron Dr Rohan Krishnan said in a statement, "We demand capital punishment for the accused who raped and murdered the doctor who was on duty at the Government Hospital of West Bengal...We stand with the family of the deceased and hope that Justice is Served by the court." 



  • Jan 18, 2025 10:21 IST

    CBI confident ahead of verdict

    The Central Bureau of Investigation is confident of securing a conviction against Sanjay Roy. The 'sole accused' was charged on October 8. The Central agency's chargesheet, submitted to a local court, presented 11 pieces of evidence including CCTV footage, DNA and blood sample reports, implicating him in the crime. The CBI reportedly seeks the death penalty for Roy.



  • Jan 18, 2025 09:56 IST

    'Not happy with investigation': Victim's father speaks up

    The parents of the rape and murder victim have long awaited justice for their daughter. On January 17, a day ahead of the Sealdah court verdict, they expressed concern over the completion of the investigation. "We are not happy with the investigation. We have reasons to believe there were others involved in the crime," the victim's father claimed, according to the Times of India.

    He added, "We have been suspecting ill motives behind the chain of events at the chest medicine department. There were 30 PGTs who were signatories to the order to demolish the bathroom in the chest medicine department. Engineers and other officials, including the former RG Kar principal, Sandip Ghosh, who endorsed the order. We suspect it was done to hush up something."

    The victim's father also shared, "The DNA report shows the presence of four boys and one girl. We will feel some relief when the accused are punished. Until we get justice, we will keep knocking on the doors of the court and will also seek the support of the people of the country... The CBI has done nothing in this matter. There is no question of satisfaction here."

    However, the grieving parents believe that today's verdict against Sanjay Roy would be a significant moment in their fight. "Sanjay Roy’s judgment will take us one step towards getting justice for our daughter," the victim's father told Asian News International. "In two months, the court reviewed all the evidence, and whatever punishment is appropriate will be decided by the court."



RG Kar medical college hospital kolkata rape-murder
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