Sanjay Roy Arrested in RG Kar Hospital Rape-Murder Case: A Closer Look at the Civic Volunteer
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/11th August 2024
Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was arrested on Saturday in connection with the horrific rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital. The arrest took place just six hours after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) consisting of seven members was formed to handle the case. The 33-year-old suspect was brought in for questioning late on Friday night, leading to his subsequent detention.
Roy’s association with the Kolkata Police dates back to 2019, when he joined the Disaster Management Group as a civic volunteer. Through what has been described as “the right channels,” he managed to secure a transfer to the Kolkata Police’s Welfare Cell. His connections within the police force allowed him to live on the premises of the Kolkata Police’s 4th Battalion, a privilege that eventually led to his posting at RG Kar Hospital.
During his tenure, Roy was assigned to the police outpost at RG Kar Hospital on numerous occasions. His extended periods of duty at the hospital provided him with easy access to all departments, a factor that may have played a role in the tragic events that unfolded.
The key piece of evidence that led to Roy’s identification was a torn earphone found in the seminar room on the third floor of the hospital’s emergency building, where the young doctor’s body was discovered on Friday. CCTV footage captured Roy entering the emergency building at around 4 am, wearing a Bluetooth device around his neck. However, when he left the building 40 minutes later, the earphone was no longer visible. The device was later found to be paired with Roy’s cellphone, solidifying his connection to the crime scene.
The sequence of events at RG Kar Hospital on that fateful Friday began post-midnight when the deceased doctor and four of her colleagues ordered food and had dinner in the seminar room. While enjoying their meal, they watched Neeraj Chopra win a silver medal. After the meal, her colleagues left the room, but she stayed behind to continue her studies. She was last seen sleeping in the room at around 3 am.
It was around 4 am when the accused entered the seminar room and sexually assaulted the young doctor. When she attempted to resist, Roy resorted to violence, ultimately throttling her. Her body was discovered at 7:30 am, leading to the launch of the investigation.
The official postmortem report, released late on Friday, confirmed the worst fears—it revealed that the 31-year-old doctor had been sexually assaulted. The report detailed multiple signs of struggle and injury, including bloodstains on her face, scratch marks on various parts of her body, and bleeding from her private areas. Additionally, there were injuries to her lips, abdomen, right hand, and fingers, along with a broken collarbone.
Sanjay Roy’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the vulnerability of even the most secure institutions. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the young doctor whose life was tragically cut short.
