Kolkata/New Delhi:

Expressing her disappointment that Sanjay Roy, the man convicted of raping and murdering a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, did not get the death penalty, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said her government will approach the High Court. 

Immediately after a Kolkata court sentenced Roy to life imprisonment till death on Monday, the Trinamool Congress chief – whose government came under fire for its alleged “mishandling” of the case and faced widespread protests, including from junior doctors – said the Kolkata Police would have ensured death penalty for him, but the investigation was taken away from the force and handed over to the CBI.

“We demanded death penalty from Day 1. We demand it now too. But it’s the court’s order. I can share my party’s opinion… we ensured death penalty in three cases within 60 days. If the case stayed with us, we would have ensured death penalty long back. I don’t know the details,” Ms Banerjee said.

In a post on X in the evening, Ms Banerjee expressed “shock” that the judgment held that the rape and murder did not fall in the category of “rarest of rare cases”. Asserting that the case warrants capital punishment, she said her government would “plead” for it at the High Court. 

“I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare case which demands capital punishment. How could the judgement come to the conclusion that it is not a rarest of rare case?!  We want and insist upon death penalty in this most sinister and sensitive case.Recently, in last 3/4 months, we have been able to ensure capital/ maximum punishment for convicts in such crimes. Then, why, in this case, has capital punishment not been awarded? (sic),” she wrote.

In the R.G. Kar junior doctor’s rape and murder case, I am really shocked to see that the judgement of the Court today finds that it is not a Rarest of Rare case!

I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare case which demands capital punishment. How could the judgement…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 20, 2025

“I strongly feel that it is a heinous crime that warrants capital punishment. We will plead for capital punishment of the convict at the High Court now,” the chief minister added.

Kolkata:

The parents of the 34-year-old doctor raped and killed at RG Kar hospital in Kolkata last year said they do not want any financial assistance after a city court ordered a sum of Rs 17 lakh to be paid to the couple who lost their daughter in the chilling crime.

Sanjay Roy, a former civic police volunteer, was found guilty two days ago in the case that sparked nationwide outrage. He was sentenced to life imprisonment today with a local court observing that it was not the “rarest of rare” case – a doctrine that justifies the death penalty.

Judge Anirban Das, who presided over the trial and gave his judgment at the Sealdah court, also directed a compensation of Rs 17 lakh to be paid to the victim’s parents.

Read: RG Kar Case Convict Gets Life Term, Judge Says Case “Not Rarest Of Rare”

The victim’s parents, who attended the court session, told the judge they did not want compensation, but justice.

The judge replied he had already given the order, and they were free to use the money however they wanted. He asked them not to see it as compensation for the rape and murder, but as part of the legal provisions.

Earlier in the day, when the judge asked Roy for his view before pronouncing the order, Roy pleaded he was “framed” and pointed to the allegations of evidence tampering.

Judge Das, however, said the charges against him were proven during the trial and he had found him guilty based on the evidence produced before him.

The prosecution demanded the death penalty for the convict, arguing that it would restore the confidence of the society. But the court observed it did not fall under the “rarest of rare” category that attracts capital punishment.

The trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar room of the RG Kar hospital on August 9 last year. Initially probed by the city police, the case was handed over to the CBI amid concerns of evidence tampering.

Roy was arrested on August 10, and while he had admitted to the crime initially, he changed his stance later and claimed he was being made a scapegoat.

Kolkata:

The father of the deceased woman medic of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday said he has spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah who has called him for a meeting.

He, however, declined to divulge much about his talks with Shah and when and where the meeting would be held.

“I have spoken to him (Amit Shah). He has called me (for a meeting). I cannot talk much about it, but the meeting will take place,” the father of the deceased woman medic at the RG Kar Hospital told reporters.

The parents of the victim had earlier written to Shah on October 22 requesting him to give them an appointment to guide and help them get justice.

State BJP leaders had said they would try to arrange a meeting between Shah and the couple during his visit to Kolkata on October 27, but it did not happen.

The parents had, however, said they were not upset about not getting an audience with Shah during his visit and expressed hope that they may get the opportunity to meet the Union home minister in future.

The body of the on-duty woman medic, who was raped and murdered, was recovered from the seminar hall of the RG Kar Hospital on August 9, following which the junior doctors went on a ‘cease-work’ across West Bengal demanding justice for the victim.

They ended their stir after 42 days on September 21 following assurances from the state government to look into their demands.

The Kolkata Police, which was investigating the crime initially, had arrested one civic volunteer before the CBI took over the investigation following an order of the Calcutta High Court.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court has ordered Wikipedia to remove from its website the name and photo of the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at a government hospital in Kolkata last month. Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, identifies the doctor in a page dedicated to the incident that has shaken the country. Indian laws don’t permit the identification of rape victims.

“The identity of the victim should not be revealed in any way. Wikipedia should immediately remove the victim’s photo and any content revealing her identity,” a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said.

The Chief Justice said the provisions of the Indian law is very clear that the identity of the victim in rape and murder cases cannot be revealed and Wikipedia must remove such references.

The doctor’s photo had been shared online and also featured at several protests across Bengal demanding justice in the incident.

Read | Kolkata Horror: Top Court’s Tough Questions As CBI Claims CCTV Footage Gaps

The court had ordered the removal of the name, photos and videos of the trainee doctor from social media earlier as well. The CJI had then said the disclosure of the identity of a victim of sexual assault is a violation of its order passed in the Nipun Saxena case.

In its 2018 order in the Nipun Saxena case, the Supreme Court had held, “No person can print or publish in print, electronic, social media, etc. the name of the victim or even in a remote manner disclose any facts which can lead to the victim being identified and which should make her identity known to the public at large.”

Read | Who Is Indira Jaising, Senior Lawyer To Represent Bengal Doctors In RG Kar Case

The trainee doctor was found dead with severe injury marks on her body on August 9 morning at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, sparking strikes by doctors and protests across the country. A civic volunteer named Sanjoy Roy, the college’s then principal Sandip Ghosh, and a cop have been arrested.

The CBI, which took over the case from Kolkata Police soon after, has alleged attempts to destroy evidence by the principal and the police officer. The Mamata Banerjee government has also agreed to remove the Kolkata Police chief and two health department officials, which had been among the key demands by the protesting junior doctors.

Lambasting the West Bengal Chief Minister over the Kolkata rape-murder case, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said that Mamata Banerjee will have to face the consequences.

In an interview to IANS, the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, spoke on various topics including the rape and murder case of the trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical and Hospital in Kolkata and Jharkhand politics given the coming Assembly polls in the state.

IANS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been frequently writing letters to the Prime Minister, over the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. What is your take?

Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Mamata Didi has become stone-hearted. I cannot understand how, as a woman, she can speak in such a manner when so many daughters are suffering. They are trying to suppress the issue.

First, the parents were falsely informed that their daughter was sick, and then they were told she committed suicide. No FIR was filed for hours, and later, evidence was destroyed while the police stood by. This is the height of injustice, and this cruelty will not last long. The entire country is hurt, and women are feeling insulted in West Bengal. Mamata Didi will have to face the consequences.

IANS: You are in charge of Jharkhand for the Assembly polls and recently, Champai Soren has joined the BJP. So, if the BJP comes to power, will he be made the Chief Minister?

Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Champai Soren has not set any conditions for leadership. He has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party to save Jharkhand. He has ignited a revolution against the way outsiders are taking over land and resources in Jharkhand. He is working towards a larger goal, but now he is a respected leader of the BJP.

IANS: Champai Soren is famous in his Santhal region mainly. So, is there any strategy of the BJP to garner votes from people of non-Adivasi communities and other Adivasi communities?

Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Strategies are never revealed. Champai ji is not alone, the BJP has strong leadership across all sections. We are all working hard, and you can be sure that the BJP will win with a thumping majority.

IANS: Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of Lakhpati Didis since the scheme was your concept. Other states have also copied the scheme, how do you see this?

Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Not just in Madhya Pradesh, but across the country, our Prime Minister has pledged that women will not remain poor. The goal is to help them earn an annual income of one lakh rupees. So far, one crore women have become Lakhpatis, and we aim to make three crore women Lakhpatis, which we are working towards.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today dedicated the party’s foundation day of its student wing to the Kolkata rape-murder victim. The Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, popularly known as TMCP, is the student wing of Trinamool Congress.

“Today I dedicate Trinamool Chhatra Parishad Foundation Day to our sister, whom we mourn the tragic loss of at RG Kar Hospital a few days ago,” Ms Banerjee posted on X in Bengali.

“And our heartfelt condolences to the family of the sister who was brutally tortured to death and we are seeking speedy justice for her, and as well as to all the women of all ages across India who have been subjected to such inhumane acts. We are deeply sad,” she added.

The rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor on August 9 has caused nationwide outrage, with junior doctors refusing to see non-emergency patients in many parts of the country. They are demanding justice for the victim and greater safety for women at hospitals.

Mamata Banerjee’s post comes a day after unregistered student body claiming to be a students’ organisation, ‘Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj’, and a dissident state government employees’ platform ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha’ held protests demanding her resignation.

The protest march to the state secretariat — “Nabanna Abhijan” — saw an outpouring of anger on the road which could not be quelled with police batons or tear gas.

The ruling Trinamool claimed that the march was backed by the opposition BJP, which has called for a 12-hour “Bengal bandh” today to protest against the police action.

New Delhi:

While hearing the Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder case today, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud referenced the 1973 Aruna Shanbaug incident to highlight brutal attacks on women doctors over the years. CJI Chandrachud said due to ingrained patriarchal biases, women doctors are targeted more and as more women join the workforce, the nation cannot wait for another rape for real changes on the ground.
The Aruna Shanbaug is among the most horrific attacks on medical professionals within hospitals, one that became a test case or euthanasia or mercy killing.

The Aruna Shanbaug Case

Aruna was a 25-year-old nurse at KEM Hospital, the medical institution she had joined in 1967 in the surgery department. She was engaged to Dr Sundeep Sardesai – a doctor at the same hospital – and was due to be married in early 1974. However, on the night of November 27, 1973, she was brutally attacked by a ward attendant, Sohanlal Bharta Walmiki, who sexually assaulted her and then strangled her with a dog chain. The assault left Aruna with severe brain damage, plunging her into a persistent vegetative state (PVS) in which she remained for 42 years until her death in 2015.

The damage to her brain stem left her paralysed, unable to speak, and reliant on others for the most basic needs. For over four decades, she was kept alive through force-feeding by generations of devoted staff at KEM Hospital, who cared for her like family. Aruna became the centre of a national debate when journalist Pinki Virani filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2011, seeking permission for euthanasia.

According to Pinky Virani’s book about Aruna, titled ‘Aruna’s Story’, Walmiki held a grudge against Aruna after she accused him of stealing food meant for dogs used in medical experiments at the hospital. Aruna had threatened to report him to the hospital authorities.

The Legal Battle

Ms Virani’s petition argued that Aruna, being in a state where she was incapable of experiencing life in any meaningful way, should be allowed to die with dignity. This case, in many ways, brought forward the issue of euthanasia into public discourse in India.

The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment delivered on March 7, 2011, rejected the petition for active euthanasia, citing that Aruna was not brain dead and responded to certain stimuli, as observed by the hospital staff. However, the Court allowed for the possibility of “passive euthanasia” – the procedure of withholding or withdrawing artificial life support to a patient.

The judgment stated that in cases where patients are in a vegetative state, life support can be legally withdrawn if the request comes from close family members or caretakers and is sanctioned by the courts.

Death And Aftermath

Aruna died on 18 May 2015, after contracting pneumonia.

Her attacker, Sohanlal Bharta Walmiki, was convicted only for robbery and attempted murder, as “sodomy” was not classified as rape under Indian law at the time. He served a mere seven-year sentence and was released in 1980.

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court, hearing the Kolkata rape-murder incident today, said the nation cannot wait for another rape for changes on the ground. The CJI DY Chandrachud-led bench also expressed strong dissatisfaction with the West Bengal government and the authorities at the hospital over the delay in filing the FIR and other procedural lapses in handling the case.

“Medical professions have become vulnerable to violence. Due to ingrained patriarchal biases, women doctors are targeted more. As more and more women join the workforce, the nation cannot wait for another rape for things to change on the ground,” CJI Chandrachud noted. 

During the hearing, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud raised several pressing questions regarding the actions of the hospital’s administration and the local police.

“Why was FIR registered three hours after the body was handed over for cremation,” the Supreme Court bench asked. 

The Supreme Court has taken up the investigation into the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old post-graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The incident has triggered widespread protests across the country and raised questions over women’s safety, particularly in medical colleges.

The three-judge bench is led by CJI Chandrachud and comprises Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. 

“What was the principal doing? FIR was not filed; the body was handed late to the parents. What is the police doing? A serious offence has taken place, the crime scene is in a hospital… What are they doing? Allowing vandals to enter the hospital?” CJI Chandrachud asked. 

In response to the bench’s questions, Mr Sibal countered that people at the hospital had taken photos, a case of unnatural death was immediately started, and a board was set up with a judicial magistrate present. However, CJI Chandrachud said that it was the hospital’s duty to file the FIR, especially in the absence of the victim’s parents.

Justice Pardiwala questioned the timeline of the FIR, asking, “Who is the first informant who filed the FIR? What is the time of the FIR?” Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, responded that the first informant was the father of the victim, who filed the FIR at 11:45 pm, followed by the Vice Principal of the hospital.

The CJI Chandrachud questioned the time at which the victim’s body was handed over for cremation, which was reportedly at 8:30 pm, and pointed out that the FIR was filed three hours later. The autopsy, conducted between 1:45 pm and 4:00 pm, revealed that the doctor had been murdered, yet the FIR was registered much later. “What was the principal, and the hospital board, doing during this time?” asked CJI Chandrachud.

Sandip Ghosh, who resigned as the principal of RG Kar Medical College just two days after the incident, has been under scrutiny by the CBI and questioned for nearly 53 hours over the past four days regarding his actions following the doctor’s death. 

The Chief Justice also noted that after the principal’s resignation, he was reassigned as principal in another college. 

The Calcutta High Court instructed the West Bengal Health Department not to appoint Mr Ghosh to any other medical college until further notice. This order followed his brief and contentious appointment as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, which was met with protests from students and junior doctors.

The former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where a 31-year-old trainee doctor was brutally raped and murdered, has arrived at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Kolkata for the fourth day of questioning.

Ordered by the Calcutta High Court to probe the brutal rape-murder, the CBI is also examining Sandip Ghosh’s call records and chats. He has been asked to provide details of his phone calls before and after the incident that occurred on August 9.

The CBI team is also planning to get the details of Mr Ghosh’s phone calls and data consumption from his mobile phone service provider.

On Saturday, the second consecutive day of questioning, the former principal, was grilled for over 13 hours after he reached the office at 11 am. The questioning went on till past midnight.

During the questioning, Mr Ghosh was asked to detail his steps after he got the news of the trainee doctor’s doctor, especially why he did not inform her parents about it for nearly three hours.

He was also asked about the sudden renovation of rooms near the seminar hall, where the body was found.

The answers given by Mr Ghosh will be verified by the investigators with versions provided by other doctors and interns who were on duty along with the victim on the night of the incident.

So far, the probe agency has questioned over 20 people including doctors and college staff.

The former principal had resigned from the post two days after the woman’s body was found. He had expressed fears of being attacked, prompting his lawyer to seek protection from the Calcutta High Court. The court directed him to approach a single bench.

The body of the post-graduate trainee doctor was found in a seminar room at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Police have arrested a civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, who had access to the hospital that night and he is now the main accused in the case. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

The Kolkata Police today summoned Trinamool Congress MP  Sukhendu Shekhar Ray for allegedly spreading misinformation about the details surrounding the brutal rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Mr Ray had claimed that a dog squad was sent to the crime scene three days after the body of the victim was found on August 9. 

“The information that the sniffer dog was sent after three days is completely wrong. A sniffer dog was sent twice on August 9 and then on 12. A notice has been sent to Shri Sukhendu Sekhar Roy,” the Kolkata Police said in a statement. 

The summons follows closely on the heels of the Kolkata Police issuing notices to actor-turned-politician and BJP leader Locket Chatterjee and two doctors – Kunal Sarkar and Subarno Goswami – over misinformation surrounding the incident. 

Read | BJP Leader, 2 Doctors Summoned Over ‘Fake News’ On Kolkata Rape-Murder

Mr Ray, 75, barely 12 hours ago, had raised serious questions about the conduct of the investigation and expressed his dissatisfaction with the handling of the case by calling for the custodial interrogation of both the former Principal of RG Kar Medical College, Dr Sandip Ghosh, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.

“CBI must act fairly. Custodial interrogation of Ex Principal and Police Commissioner is a must to know who and why floated suicide story. Why wall of hall demolished, who patronised Roy to be so powerful, Why sniffer dog used after 3 days. 100s of such questions. Make them speak,” Mr Ray posted. 

The call for Commissioner Goyal’s interrogation has, however, not been universally accepted within the party. Kunal Ghosh, another prominent Trinamool leader, strongly opposed the demand.

READ | Should Kolkata Top Cop Be Interrogated? Trinamool Leaders Differ 

“I also demand justice in the RG Kar case but strongly oppose this demand regarding CP. After getting the information, he has tried his best. Personally, CP was doing his job, and the investigation was in a positive focus. This kind of post is unfortunate, that too from my senior leader,” Mr Ghosh said.

I also demand justice in RGKar case.
But strongly oppose this demand regarding CP. After got information He has tried his best. Personally CP was doing his job and investigation was in a positive focus. This kind of post is unfortunate, that too from my senior leader. https://t.co/quLVsUEXCd

— Kunal Ghosh (@KunalGhoshAgain) August 18, 2024

Mr Ray was one of the first TMC leaders to announce his participation in the nationwide midnight protest over the rape and murder. He made the announcement on X, expressing solidarity with the protesters.

“Tomorrow I am going to join the protesters, particularly because I have a daughter and little granddaughter like millions of Bengali families. We must rise to the occasion. Enough of cruelty against women. Let’s resist together. Come what may,” Mr Ray posted.

Mr Ray’s stance, however,  led to speculation about his position within the party. When questioned by a user on X about the potential consequences of his actions, including the possibility of being expelled from the Trinamool Congress, Mr Ray responded: “Please need not worry for my fate. Blood of a freedom fighter flows in my veins. I’m least bothered.”

Besides the Trinamool leader, the Kolkata Police sent notices to BJP’s Locket Chatterjee and two prominent doctors.