A Kolkata court on Saturday convicted Sanjay Roy, the prime accused in the rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. .Additional district and sessions judge Anirban Das delivered the verdict after an in-camera trial that lasted 57 days.After the verdict was delivered, Roy told the Court that he was being framed. The Court replied that it will hear Roy before it decides on the punishment to be imposed on him. The hearing on sentencing will take place on Monday, January 20. .The case concerns the rape and murder of a 31-year-old resident doctor, who was found dead at the State-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, 2024.The doctor was found dead at a seminar hall of the college and an autopsy confirmed that she was raped and murdered.The incident sparked nationwide outrage and protests with doctors in various parts of the country going on strike demanding stricter laws and policing to ensure the safety of medical professionals.Roy, civic volunteer with the city police, was arrested by the Kolkata Police on August 10, 2024 a day after the incident..The investigation into the case was eventually transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Calcutta High Court. The trial court in West Bengal framed criminal charges for rape and murder against Roy. The trial started on November 12, 2024 and concluded on January 9 with the CBI seeking the death penalty for Roy.Meanwhile, the CBI also arrested former RG Kar principal Sandeep Ghosh and police officer Abhijeet Mondal accusing them of attempt to destroy evidence.However, they were granted default bail since the CBI could not file the chargesheet against them within the stipulated 90-day deadline.Dr. Ghosh continues to remain in jail since he has also been booked in a case concerning alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital..Meanwhile, the Supreme Court too initiated a suo motu case after the incident in which it proceeded to examine larger concerns of workplace safety for medical professionals, apart from concerns about the probe and trial in the RG Kar case. The top court in that case ordered the establishment of a National Task Force (NTF) to examine the larger issues of safety and dignity of doctors and medical professionals and to address gender-based violence against such professionals at the workplace.The NTF submitted a report to the Court in November 2024 and the same is currently under consideration by various States.
