In a landmark judgment, the CBI court sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment till death for the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate medical trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024. Judge Anirban Das announced the quantum of punishment at 2:45 PM on Monday. He also said it is not the ‘rarest of the rare’ case.
While delivering the sentence, Judge Das stated, “I think this is not a case of rarest of the rare. That’s why I am giving you imprisonment till your death.”
The CBI court had found him guilty on January 18, 2025, for the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate medical trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024.
During the proceedings, Roy 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. I was not given a chance to speak. You have seen all of this, sir. I told you before as well.”
In response, Judge Anirban Das reminded Roy that he had already been given ample time to present his case. “I gave you almost half a day to speak to me. I listened to you for three hours. All the charges, evidence, documents, and witnesses presented before me have been examined, and based on these, I found you guilty. You have already been proven guilty. Now, I just wanted to hear your thoughts about the punishment. Who is there in your family? Do they stay in touch with you?”
Roy admitted that his family does not visit him in jail, stating, “No, sir. I am in jail. They never visit me.”
CBI Demands Death Penalty in Rare Case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) lawyer strongly advocated for the death penalty, labeling it a “rarest-of-the-rare” case. “The victim was a meritorious student and an asset to society. This incident has shaken the entire community. The parents have lost their daughter. If even doctors are not safe, then what can be said? Only the death penalty can restore confidence in society. We must restore society’s faith in the justice system,” the lawyer argued.
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Judge Das will announce the quantum of punishment at 2:45 PM today. Roy has been charged under Section 64 (rape), Section 66 (punishment for causing death), and Section 103 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. The penalties range from a minimum of 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment to life imprisonment, with the maximum punishment being the death penalty.
Nationwide Protests and Investigation Findings
The crime sent shockwaves across the nation, sparking widespread protests and public outrage. The victim’s body was discovered in a seminar hall at the hospital in the early hours of August 9, 2024. Investigators determined she was killed after being raped.
Kolkata Police quickly identified Sanjay Roy as the suspect, linking him to the crime through a Bluetooth earphone found near the victim’s body. CCTV footage captured Roy entering the seminar hall with the earphone around his neck, strengthening the case against him.
As the nation awaits the sentencing, this case serves as a grim reminder of the challenges in ensuring safety and justice. The victim, a promising postgraduate medical trainee, has left behind a grieving family and an enraged community demanding accountability.
