In a significant development in the case of the murdered trainee doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has confirmed that Sanjay Roy is the only accused, and dismissed allegations of gang rape. The additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) court in Sealdah has remanded Roy to 14 days of judicial custody.
The case initially came under scrutiny when the Kolkata Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) on August 9, charging under sections 64 (rape) and 103 (1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Following a directive from the Calcutta High Court, the CBI took over the investigation on August 13, re-registering the FIR under the same sections.
In a remand note presented to the ACJM court on Friday, the CBI did not include Section 70 (1) of the BNS, which pertains to gang rape. This omission indicates that, as of now, Sanjay Roy is considered the sole suspect in the case. An official involved in the case explained that while the current focus is on Roy, additional charges could be brought later if the investigation uncovers new evidence.
Roy, who was apprehended by Kolkata Police the day after the crime, has been the only individual arrested thus far. The Kolkata Police transferred all case-related documents and evidence to the CBI following the High Court’s order. According to a senior Kolkata Police officer, Roy has confessed to the crime, and all relevant materials have been handed over to the CBI for further investigation.
The case has been marred by controversy and allegations of evidence tampering. On August 22, the CBI informed the Supreme Court that the crime scene had been compromised, a claim that the state government has denied. Compounding the situation, videos surfaced online showing a crowd gathering in the seminar hall of the hospital where the doctor’s body was discovered. The Kolkata Police initially claimed that the crime scene was secured, but later, concerns were raised about unauthorized access and the identities of individuals seen in the restricted area.
Despite these issues, Roy has maintained his innocence, claiming before the ACJM court that he is being framed. The CBI has not commented on the specific details of their investigation, but their exclusion of gang rape charges from the current remand note suggests a focused investigation on Roy’s individual involvement.
As the investigation progresses, the case continues to draw significant public and media attention. The focus remains on whether additional suspects will emerge and if further charges will be filed based on ongoing findings. For now, the spotlight is firmly on Sanjay Roy, with the CBI’s next steps eagerly awaited by all parties involved.
