Indian Court Sentences Police Volunteer to Life in Jail for Rape and Murder of Junior Doctor

An Indian court in Kolkata has sentenced Sanjay Roy, a police volunteer, to life imprisonment for the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. Despite demands for the death penalty, the judge ruled that the crime did not meet the criteria for the “rarest-of-rare” category, a legal standard for capital punishment in India.

The incident, which occurred on August 9, 2024, sparked nationwide outrage and led to protests by doctors across India, demanding justice for the victim and better security measures in public hospitals. The body of the young doctor was discovered in a classroom at the hospital, leading to widespread condemnation of the crime and the lack of safety for women in public spaces.

Judge Anirban Das, who convicted Roy on Saturday, stated that circumstantial evidence had confirmed the charges against him. Although Roy maintained his innocence, claiming he had been framed, the judge found the evidence overwhelming.

Federal police had initially classified the crime as falling under the “rarest-of-rare” category, urging the court to impose the death penalty. However, Judge Das disagreed, stating that after reviewing all the circumstances and evidence, he did not believe it was a “rarest-of-rare” crime.

The victim’s parents, present in court during the sentencing, expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation and suggested that others may have been involved in the crime. They had requested the death penalty for Roy and demanded further investigation into what they described as a “larger conspiracy.”

The case also highlighted concerns over the mishandling of the crime scene, with charges being filed against local police officials and the head of the medical college for destroying evidence and tampering with the investigation.

The case continues to raise questions about the safety of women in India and the effectiveness of justice in cases of sexual violence.