Sanjay Roy Found Guilty Of Raping And Murdering Kolkata's RG Kar Doctor

A local court in Kolkata has found Sanjay Roy, a 33-year-old former civic police volunteer, guilty in the gruesome rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar hospital. He will be sentenced on Monday, bringing closure to the brutal incident that had shaken the nation last year.

The 31-year-old doctor, who was on duty on August 8 night, was found dead the next morning, sparking a massive probe and protests that brought Bengal to a standstill. Local media referred to her as 'Abhaya' (the fearless), on the lines of the 2012 Delhi rape case trial, in which the victim was named 'Nirbhaya'.

In a 160-page judgment, the Additional District and Sessions Court in Sealdah today convicted Roy under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that deal with rape, murder, and causing death.

Read: "I'm Being Framed": Kolkata Rape-Murder Convict To Court After Verdict

"I have criticised some activities of the police and hospital authorities which came out in the evidence. Activities of the HoD, MSVP and Principal created some confusion and that has been criticised," said judge Anirban Das while pronouncing the order.

After the judgment, the victim's father broke down in the court and told the judge, "You have honoured the faith that I reposed in you."

Brought to the crowded courtroom on Saturday afternoon amid tight security, Roy repeated his claim that he was being framed as his lawyers tried to calm him down. When he was being taken out, he claimed a certain "IPS" knew everything.

Read: RG Kar Victim's Father Breaks Down In Court, Has A Message For Judge

The court said it will hear him on Monday when it hears the arguments on the punishments he would undergo.

The convict's claim of innocence contradicts his initial confession to the crime. The CBI, which had taken over the probe from Kolkata Police amid concerns of destruction of evidence, too had found him guilty.

Sanjay Roy was first arrested by Kolkata Police a day after the victim was found dead in the hospital's seminar hall. They handed him to the CBI when they took over. His trial was conducted in-camera and behind closed doors, and the statements of at least 50 witnesses were recorded.

Read: A Rape-Murder, Then Massive Protests: Timeline Of Kolkata's RG Kar College Case

Evidence tampering claims followed as a mob vandalised the emergency department at the hospital when thousands of residents hit the streets to protest against the crime.

Besides Roy, the medical college's principal Sandip Ghosh and the former officer of the local police station, Abhijit Mondal, were arrested on charges of evidence tampering. Both later secured a "default bail" since CBI did not pursue the charges within the next 90 days.

The full order is yet to be uploaded, which is expected to throw some light on the evidence destruction claim.

The conviction also raises hope for thousands of doctors who had gone on strike demanding a safer work environment and better infrastructure that would make them feel secure.