Kokata rape-murder case: Court sentences Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment

The Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court handed down a life imprisonment sentence on Monday to Sanjay Roy, the accused in the RG Kar rape and murder case.

In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a fine of Rs 50,000. During the trial, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) argued in favor of the death penalty for Roy.

Addressing the defendant, the court stated, “I told you the previous day the charges you were convicted against and the charges that have been proven against you.”

The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das in Sealdah had on Saturday held Roy guilty of the crime committed against the postgraduate trainee doctor at the hospital on August 9 last year, which sparked off unprecedented and prolonged nationwide protests.

Judge Das said the crime did not fall under the "rarest of the rare" category as justification for not giving death penalty to the convict.

When questioned about the allegations, Roy maintained his innocence. “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,” he said.

His lawyer argued that even in extreme cases, the possibility of reform should remain. “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...”

In contrast, the lawyer representing the victim’s family called for the maximum penalty. “I want the death sentence as maximum punishment...” he stated. The victim’s father echoed this demand, declaring that their fight for justice would continue both in the courts and on the streets.

“On Saturday, the judge said that the harshest punishment would be given (to the accused). We have full faith in the judge. Our fight will continue in the courts and streets,” he told ANI.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee highlighted her administration’s cooperation with the investigation. Speaking before the court proceedings began, Banerjee said, “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.”

The guilty verdict against Sanjay Roy was delivered on Saturday. The court stated that Roy had been charged under sections 64, 66, and 103/1 of BNS, citing allegations that he assaulted and murdered the trainee doctor in a seminar room at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The incident, which occurred on August 9, prompted widespread public protests. Roy, who worked as a civic volunteer at the hospital, was subsequently arrested.