The Calcutta High Court has granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) permission to interrogate Sanjay Roy, the convict currently serving a life sentence, and any other suspects as part of its ongoing probe into the larger conspiracy surrounding the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The order was passed on Thursday by a division bench comprising Justices Rajasekhar Mantha and Rai Chattopadhyay. The court was hearing a petition filed by the victim’s parents, who are seeking a further, more comprehensive investigation into the brutal crime that occurred in August 2024.
While Sanjay Roy, a former civic volunteer, has already been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment “till the end of his natural life,” the CBI is currently investigating whether a broader conspiracy was at play.
The parents’ counsel, Advocate Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee, argued before the bench that the nature of the crime suggests the involvement of multiple individuals. “It appears to be a case of gangrape,” Chatterjee claimed, urging the court to ensure that this angle is thoroughly explored.
The petitioners also raised concerns regarding the potential tampering of evidence during the initial stages of the investigation, noting that they had consulted forensic experts who supported their suspicions.
During the proceedings, the High Court drew a parallel to the IIT Kharagpur case involving the death of student Faizan Ahmed. Initially labeled a suicide in October 2022, a murder probe was eventually launched after the High Court ordered an exhumation and a second post-mortem, which provided forensic proof of foul play.
Citing this precedent, the bench directed the CBI to utilize all “modern investigation methods” to ensure no stone is left unturned in the RG Kar probe.
The court’s directive ensures that the CBI has the legal clearance to move beyond Roy’s initial conviction to identify any other accomplices or conspirators. The central agency is expected to report on its progress when the matter returns to court for the next hearing.
The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for May 12.
