RG Kar sexual assault case: Will Sanjay Roy be awarded death penalty or life imprisonment ?
The parents of the victim who were also present during the court hearing broke down after the verdict was announced.
PTC News Desk: A session court in Kolkata's Sealdah on Saturday pronounced its verdict in RG Kar rape and murder case and found prime accused Sanjay Roy guilty in rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The case triggered weeks long protest and massive outrage amongst the entire medical fraternity.
The parents of the victim who were also present during the court hearing broke down after the verdict was announced.
Sanjay Roy was charged under Section 64 (rape), Section 66 (punishment for causing death), and Section 103 (murder). However, the quantum of the punishment will be announced on Monday (January 20).
The maximum punishment for rape under Section 64 is life imprisonment, while the minimum punishment is 10 years.
Section 66, which addresses the penalty for causing death during the commission of rape, mandates a minimum sentence of 20 years and allows for a maximum sentence of death.
Section 103, which outlines the punishment for murder, permits either life imprisonment or the death penalty.
"I have examined all the evidence and witnesses, also heard the arguments. After getting through all of these, I have found you guilty. You are guilty. You must be punished," the judge said.
Timeline of Kolkata rape and murder case
An on duty 31 year old trainee doctor at the state run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata was raped and murdered. Her semi-naked lifeless body was found on the third floor of the seminar hall. The heinous crime triggered a nationwide outrage.
The hospital's principal, Sandip Ghosh, stepped down amid nationwide protests. The West Bengal government also transferred the hospital's Superintendent.
Several public interest litigations and petitions were filed by the victim's parents demanding CBI investigation into the matter citing distrust in Kolkata police. Later the high court transferred the probe to the CBI.
Healthcare services were massively disrupted across the country as doctors took to streets with complete withdrawal of medical services in solidarity with the victim.