The trial of Sanjay Roy, accused in the August 9 rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College, began Monday in a Kolkata court. Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das presided over the proceedings, held behind closed doors. The victim’s father and a neighbor testified in-camera as key witnesses.
Roy, a Kolkata Police civic volunteer, has been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, including Section 64 (rape), Section 66 (death-causing injury), and Section 103 (murder). The CBI, which took over the investigation following a Calcutta High Court order, submitted evidence allegedly linking Roy to the crime scene through forensic findings, such as blood traces on Roy’s clothing and DNA evidence. A 45-page CBI chargesheet lists 11 pieces of forensic and documentary evidence, with a Bluetooth device connected to Roy’s phone also discovered at the scene.
Throughout the trial, Roy has maintained his innocence, asserting that he was framed by high-ranking officials, including Kolkata Police’s former commissioner. “Senior officers are involved in this,” he told reporters outside the court, claiming they threatened and conspired against him.
This case has drawn attention due to nationwide outrage and allegations of custodial terture following protests. In a related Supreme Court ruling on Monday, the Calcutta High Court’s directive for a CBI probe into alleged police torture of protesters was stayed. The Supreme Court called for an investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising seven officers, five of whom must be women, following accusations that a protester was physically abused in custody.
With the trial in its early stages, the outcome remains closely watched by both the public and legal community.
