The verdict in the case of the 31-year-old trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, is expected today, triggering outrage and protests across the country. The tragic incident, which took place on August 9 last year, has shocked the medical community and led to widespread demands for better protection for healthcare professionals.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the case from Kolkata Police, has expressed confidence that the main accused Sanjay Roy will be convicted. The case will be heard in Sealdah Court, where Judge Anirban Das will pronounce the verdict on the basis of the first charge sheet of CBI.
The investigation has been ongoing since the CBI took over the investigation on August 13, with statements of over 120 witnesses recorded and in-camera hearings conducted for 66 days. The CBI presented sufficient evidence, including DNA and biological samples such as viscera, to establish Sanjay Roy’s involvement in the crime. DNA samples taken from the victim’s body were found to match Roy’s DNA and biological evidence from the crime scene supported the CBI’s case.
The agency further claimed that the victim fought bravely to save her life during the attack, which left Roy with five different injuries on his body. The medical report confirmed that the victim died due to manual strangulation and that her body bore marks of brutal attack, including severe bleeding from her eyes, mouth and private parts. National fallout and Supreme Court intervention The case attracted national attention with protests across West Bengal after the victim’s body was found semi-nude in a seminar hall inside the hospital.
Protests led by doctors and women’s rights groups intensified, demanding justice for the victim and better protection for medical staff. The Calcutta High Court handed over the investigation to the CBI, which filed a chargesheet naming Sanjay Roy as the sole prime accused in the case. Additionally, two former officials—former principal Sandeep Ghosh and former local police station officer Abhijeet Mandal—were arrested for tampering with evidence. However, the duo were later granted default bail after the CBI failed to file a supplementary chargesheet within 90 days.
The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the case and expressed concern over the safety of medical professionals across the country. This led to the formation of a national task force to address the safety concerns of doctors across the country.
The Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal faced severe criticism over the way it handled the case, leading to protests across the state. The unrest led to the transfer of several senior officers, including the Kolkata Police Commissioner, in an attempt to quell the ongoing protests.
The trial, scheduled to begin in November 2023, was conducted in a closed courtroom to protect the identities of witnesses, including the victim’s parents, forensic experts and colleagues. A total of 50 witnesses testified during the trial.
With the verdict expected today, many are hoping for justice, as the case has highlighted the need for greater protections and protections for doctors and medical professionals. The outcome of this lawsuit is seen as an important step in addressing both the safety concerns of healthcare workers and the need for stronger legal measures to protect women across the country.
The tragic case of the trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College continues to have a lasting impact, and has triggered important discussions on the safety of women, the safety of healthcare workers and the integrity of the legal process. The court’s decision today will be a watershed moment in the fight for justice and safety of medical professionals across India.
