The Calcutta High Court has taken a stern view of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) probe into the RG Kar Medical Rape case and murder incident, commanding the agency to come up with a case diary and respond to essential questions about the possibility of gang rape, evidence tampering, and involvement of a larger conspiracy.
This order was issued on 24 March 2025 by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, and this is the juncture where the case has taken a major turn from the time it was hotly debated all over the country in August 2024 when a 31-year-old intern doctor was violently assaulted and murdered within the hospital premises.
The intervention literally suggests that the court lingers in doubt about the thoroughness of the investigation even after the conviction of the main accused, Sanjay Roy, as well as mounting pressure to expose several systemic failures inherent in law enforcement and institutional accountability.
RG Kar Medical Rape Case Background and Initial Investigation
On August 9, 2024, the semi-naked body of the victim was discovered inside a seminar hall of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, leading to public outrage across the nation. The autopsy reports, also known as post-mortem reports, indicated that she had been sexually assaulted, genitally tortured, and strangled to death; extreme violence was also detected, including fractures to the thyroid cartilage.
Within 24 hours, on August 10, police nabbed Sanjay Roy, a 33-year-old civic volunteer, after identifying him from a Bluetooth earpiece found at the scene of the crime and CCTV footage showing him entering the seminar hall.
Initial investigations drew much adverse criticism on charges of procedural violations, especially with regard to delay in registering the First Information Report (FIR) and indications of tampering with evidence by hospital staff and police.
The lack of public faith in the handling of the investigations by the Kolkata Police led to the transfer of the case to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court on August 13, 2024.
Sanjay Roy, according to the preliminary chargesheet filed in October 2024 by the CBI, was guilty of rape and murder under Sections 64, 66, and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, all of which prescribe sentences of incarceration ranging from 25 years to capital punishment. Despite Roy being convicted for life imprisonment in January 2025, the pressure on the victims’ families and civic organizations for accountability against collaborators and institutional negligence did not wane.
Judicial Proceedings of Conviction of Sanjay Roy in the RG Kar Medical Rape Case
The January 2025 verdict of the trial court sentencing Roy to life imprisonment drew mixed reactions. While the CBI had sought the death penalty, Judge Anirban Das emphasized the need to “rise over an eye-for-an-eye approach” in his 172-page order since there was not enough evidence for capital punishment under Section 103(1).
In addition, the judgment roared against the indifferent attitudes and procedural failures of Kolkata Police and the hospital authorities as well fine examples such as Roy being described as taking undue privileges from assistant sub-inspector Anup Dutta, who allegedly provided him with “unbridled power” during the period that he passed as a civic volunteer. The victim’s father had to “run from pillar to post” to file a complaint exposing the systemic apathy.
Roy, on his part, constrained himself to proclaim his innocence and reiterate he was “falsely implicated” while indicating the involvement of an IPS officer. His defense produced the undamaged condition of a rudraksha chain he wore, contending it would have snapped during the time of committing the violent crime- a plea the court dismissed.
Calcutta High Court’s Critical Questions and CBI’s Challenges in the RG Kar Medical Rape Case
Those unresolved issues were in the limelight once again when the High Court heard the case on March 24. CBI was instructed to clarify whether the rape was gang rape or a single act. According to Justice Ghosh, “Was it a case of rape or gang-rape?” This was after inquest reports did not match those of the autopsy, and there were also indications of possible destruction of evidence. The court also wanted a status report on the investigation of a “larger conspiracy” and whether or not there are more suspects apart from Roy.
Multifaceted challenges for CBI in the RG Kar Medical Rape Case
- Tampered evidence: Initial mishandling of forensic evidence by Kolkata Police added to the delay in securing the CCTV footage and statements from witnesses, which played havoc with critical leads.
- Institutional complicity: Investigations into allegations of hospital personnel destroying video footage while police officers neglected their security protocols. In this connection, the CBI summoned eleven personnel from the Tala police station, including sub-inspectors and constables who had been posted at the hospital outpost in March 2025.
- Gang-rape allegations: The forensic tests did confirm there was sexual assault, but since there was non-availability of DNA from more than one individual, it has complicated investigations proving the gang-rape charge.
Soon, the supplementary chargesheet will have within its folds some fresh evidence/suspects. Meanwhile, the parents of the victim complained before the court about the need for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) supervised by the court for further transparency, stating that the CBI has been late in interviewing some vital witnesses, the hospital superintendent not being an exception.
Societal Impact and Institutional Reckoning in the cases like RG Kar Medical Rape Case
Discussions on women’s safety and institutional accountability in India have been given a great boost from this case. Protests by doctors, students, and civil society groups across the country coerced the West Bengal government into overhauling hospital security, including the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at RG Kar Medical College. Internationally, these solidarity demonstrations were supported by diaspora communities in over 25 countries, with rallies in Dhaka, London, and New York echoing the call for justice.
The case has contributed to a worsening atmosphere between the West Bengal government and federal agencies. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed dissatisfaction with the CBI’s investigation of the case, alleging that the verdict would have been harsher had the case remained with the state police. The Supreme Court, however, has on many occasions intervened to hasten the investigation, signifying the case’s iconic status in India’s collective battle against gender violence.
Next Steps and Unanswered Questions RG Kar Medical Rape Case
With the CBI preparing another status report, which is due on April 23, 2025, a number of questions remain unanswered.
- Gang-Rape Theory: The agency will have to resolve varying medical and circumstantial evidence to confirm or deny the gang rape by multiple perpetrators.
- Institutional Accountability: An inquiry into the role of the hospital administration and police officers in abetting the crime-—whether by negligence or active collusion-—would need to be thoroughly done.
- Legal Precedent: The High Court’s decision allowing a retrial after a conviction creates a very rare precedent, which could prove the limits of judicial interference in criminal proceedings.
Conclusion
The RG Kar medical rape case represents an intermeshing of gender violence, institutional failure, and the steadfast pursuit of justice in India.
While the conviction of Sanjay Roy allows for some sense of closure, the unremitting pursuit of the unaddressed questions by the Calcutta High Court indicates that systemic change-police training, hospital safety protocols, and so forth-is now an urgent necessity.
As the CBI walks through this minefield of legality and ethics, the outcome of the inquiry will decide how justice vis-a-vis the victim proceeds and the extent to which public faith towards the criminal judiciary in the country remains intact. The world is watching as India confronts the demons of apathy and impunity, one courtroom hearing at a time.
About Author
Syeda Ayesha is a passionate 3rd year BBA LLB student at Sultan-Ul-Uloom College of Law in Hyderabad, with a special interest in criminal law and family law. She has built her academic journey on a solid foundation of legal principles, progressing from basic to advanced levels, and is eager to apply this knowledge in practice. Determined to gain practical experience, she is committed to learning more about the law. Ayesha is excited about the opportunity to work in a dynamic legal environment, which she sees as a valuable avenue for both personal and professional growth.
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