AP

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a 45-page chargesheet on Monday, accusing Kolkata Police volunteer Sanjay Roy of the brutal rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. Roy, arrested within 24 hours of the crime, is the only person formally named in the chargesheet, although the investigation is ongoing.

The CBI's chargesheet, which was submitted to a special court, outlines a detailed case against Roy, with a request for his trial to proceed while he remains in custody. Sources close to the investigation revealed that Roy has been charged under several sections of the Bengal Penal Code (BPC). These include Section 64(1) (punishment for rape), Section 66 (causing injury leading to death or vegetative state), and Section 103(1) (punishment for murder), with the latter two charges carrying the possibility of the death penalty. Roy is currently in solitary confinement at Presidency Correctional Home and is expected to appear in court on October 18.

The chargesheet cites 128 witnesses, of which 51 are directly related to the rape and murder case. The remaining witnesses are connected to allegations of evidence-tampering and conspiracy. While Roy is the only person formally charged at this stage, the CBI is investigating potential involvement by others, including former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh and Tala police station's former officer-in-charge Abhijit Mandal, who were both arrested by the CBI on September 15 for suspected complicity.

The case has sparked widespread outrage, particularly among medical professionals in West Bengal. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) announced a nationwide hunger strike, set to begin two months after the crime, in protest of the slow pace of the investigation. FAIMA, along with the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front, has been calling for faster justice and broader accountability, with junior doctors expressing concerns that more individuals may have been involved in the crime.

"This is progress, but it's been slow. We believe more people are involved," remarked one junior doctor involved in the protest. Senior doctors have raised concerns about the alleged evidence-tampering and are awaiting further developments, hoping that the CBI’s supplementary chargesheet will expose additional culprits.

The tragic case dates back to August 9, when the body of the young doctor, a trainee at RG Kar Medical College, was discovered inside the hospital premises. According to the initial investigation, the doctor had been sexually assaulted and murdered in a brutal attack. Sanjay Roy, a police volunteer working at the hospital, was quickly identified as a suspect and arrested. The speed of his arrest, within 24 hours, drew both praise and criticism, with some suggesting that the focus on Roy might obscure the involvement of other individuals.

Following Roy’s arrest, the CBI took over the investigation from local authorities, as public pressure mounted for a thorough and impartial probe. The case drew significant media attention, and medical organizations across the country voiced their concerns about the safety of healthcare workers, particularly women, in government hospitals.

The victim’s family has remained resilient throughout the ordeal. Her father expressed his faith in the legal process, stating, “We don’t know about the chargesheet, so I can’t comment on it. But we trust the law and the CBI investigation.” The family had originally planned to hold a five-day sit-in protest outside their home during Durga Puja, a major festival in Kolkata. However, they decided against a formal protest, opting instead to create a space where friends and family could gather to pay their respects. “My daughter used to organize the Durga Puja pandal at our house. This year, there will be no puja. Instead, we’ve asked for a stage to meet people during the puja days,” her father said.

The case has also highlighted concerns about the broader systemic failures that may have contributed to the tragedy. Investigations have revealed lapses in security at RG Kar Medical College, where Roy, a police volunteer, was stationed without thorough background checks. Moreover, the arrest of the former principal and the former officer-in-charge at Tala police station has raised questions about possible negligence or active complicity in the crime or its cover-up.

The CBI's investigation has been unfolding against a backdrop of public protests and demands for faster justice. The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front has been leading the charge, staging demonstrations and hunger strikes to ensure that the investigation proceeds quickly and transparently. They have also been vocal in calling for accountability from hospital authorities, whom they believe may have failed to protect their colleague.

As the investigation continues, the medical community awaits the CBI's supplementary chargesheet, hoping that it will shed more light on the events leading to the horrific crime and reveal any additional individuals who may have been involved. The case has become a rallying point for healthcare workers across India, many of whom fear for their own safety in the wake of this tragic incident.

The upcoming court hearing on October 18 is expected to be a crucial moment in the case, as the CBI seeks to establish the full extent of Roy’s involvement and explore the possibility of additional charges against other individuals.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)