Today, Sanjay Roy, the main accused in the rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Kolkata court.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das declined to impose the death penalty, observing that the crime did not meet the "rarest of rare" threshold required for capital punishment.

The court also directed the West Bengal government to provide ₹17 lakh as compensation to the victim's family.

The 31-year-old resident doctor was found dead on August 9, 2024, in the seminar hall of the State-run medical college. An autopsy confirmed that she was raped and murdered, sparking nationwide outrage and protests. Medical professionals across the country went on strike, demanding better laws and enforcement for the safety of healthcare workers.

Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was arrested on August 10, 2024, a day after the incident. Following a directive from the Calcutta High Court, the investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The trial began on November 12, 2024, and concluded on January 9, 2025. The court convicted Roy on January 18 after a 57-day in-camera trial, reserving the sentencing for January 22. Although the CBI sought the death penalty, the court opted for life imprisonment.

The CBI also arrested former RG Kar principal Sandeep Ghosh and police officer Abhijeet Mondal for allegedly attempting to destroy evidence. However, they were granted default bail due to the CBI’s failure to file a chargesheet within the 90-day deadline. Dr. Ghosh remains in jail, as he faces charges in a separate case involving financial irregularities at the medical college.

The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the incident, highlighting concerns about workplace safety and gender-based violence faced by medical professionals. It directed the formation of a National Task Force (NTF) to address these issues. The NTF submitted its report in November 2024, which is now under review by various States.

This tragic case has reignited debates about workplace safety and the need for systemic reforms to ensure the protection and dignity of medical professionals across the country.