CCTV Footage, Blood Stains: CBI Files Evidence Against RG Kar Accused Sanjay Roy

On October 9, the Central Bureau of Investigation charged civic volunteer Sanjay Roy as the sole accused in the August 9 rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The Central agency's chargesheet presented 11 pieces of evidence, including CCTV footage, DNA and blood sample reports, which implicate him in the crime. Roy has been in police custody since August 10.

CBI Reveals No Gangrape; 11 Evidence Accusing Sanjay Roy

The CBI chargesheet, submitted to a local court, highlights crucial evidence accusing Sanjay Roy of the brutal crime. The agency stated that Roy's DNA was found on the victim’s body, apart from blood stains and injuries consistent with the victim's struggle. Additionally, CCTV footage and Roy's mobile location data show that he was present at the crime scene on August 9.

The charge sheet, referring to the victim as ‘V’, also reveals that the victim's blood stains were found on Roy’s clothing and footwear, recovered by police on 12 August. Hair samples from the crime scene were also matched to Roy, further implicating him in the crime.

In September, the CBI informed a special Sealdah court in Kolkata that there is currently no evidence to substantiate the claim that a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was gang-raped. On September 17, 2024, the CBI presented arrested Tala Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abhijit Mondal and former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh before the court. 

The CBI requested an extension of their remand, citing the need to examine evidence such as call recordings, DVRs, CCTV footage, and other data. The court granted the extension, keeping both men in CBI custody until September 20.

SC Directs Removal Of Working Hours Limit For Women Medics

The Supreme Court of India is hearing the case of the August 9 rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. On September 17, the bench observed that the Central Bureau of Investigation's probe in the case has been processed in the right direction and will unearth the truth. Referring to a recent policy of the West Bengal government limiting working hours of female medical professionals, the SC said that it was not going to tell any woman in the country that she would not work at night.

In this regard, the West Bengal government was directed to immediately remove the notification. The apex court said that the State has to look into this issue and will have to provide security to women doctors. Here are some more developments in the trial.

CJI Chandrachud's Statement On Women's Safety

On August 20, the Supreme Court of India took suo moto cognisance of the rape-murder case of a 31-year-old Kolkata doctor at her workplace, RG Kar Medical College Hospital. The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, made an impactful statement while addressing the case. "If women are not able to go to work and conditions are not safe, we are denying them equality," he said. "As more and more women join the workforce, the nation cannot wait for another rape for things to change on the ground."

The CJI also cited the 1973 Aruna Shanbaug case to highlight the attacks on women medical professionals over the years. Shanbaug was a nurse who was raped and strangulated with a dog chain by a male attendant. The incident left her with severe brain damage, plunging her into a persistent vegetative state (PVS) in which she remained for 42 years until she died in 2015.

"Medical professions have become vulnerable to violence due to ingrained patriarchal biases, and the women doctors are targeted more," CJI Chandrachud said. He emphasised the need for more safety protocols in healthcare facilities. "We know they are all interns, resident doctors and most importantly women doctors....most of the young doctors are putting in 36 hours....we must evolve a national protocol to ensure safe conditions of work are provided."

Appeal To Doctors, Call For Safety

The bench also asked doctors across India to end their strike as health services suffered. The CJI assured the medical community that the court would take sustainable steps to ensure their demands for safety are met. "We want the doctors to trust us. Their safety and protection is a matter of highest national concern," he said.

The SC bench also criticised the fact that the name of the victim is being published in the media. "We are deeply concerned of the fact that the name of the victim has been all over the media, the photographs and videos are all over the media, this is extremely concerning… Is this the way we provide dignity to the young doctor who has lost her life?" CJI Chandrachud said.

CJI Chandrachud Raises Concern Over Handling Of Case

CJI Chandrachud expressed concern over the delay in registering an FIR related to the incident. “Parents were not in the hospital when the incident took place. The onus was on the hospital to register a case”, the Chief Justice asserted. He also grilled the West Bengal government over delays.

“What was the principal doing? FIR was not filed; the body was handed late to parents; what are the police doing? A serious offence has taken place, the crime scene has taken in hospital...what are they doing? Allowing vandalists to enter the hospital?" he questioned.

SC Sets Up National Task Force

The Supreme Court set up a 10-member National Task Force on Day 1 of the hearing to look into the modalities needed to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals across India.  The SC stated that the NTF needed to look into providing an enforceable national protocol for dignified and safe working conditions for interns, residents, senior residents, doctors etc.

The Force is expected to ensure safety in the hospital, infrastructural development, employment of social welfare workers trained in grief and crisis counselling, and workshops on handling grief and crisis. The NTF has been directed to submit an interim report in 3 weeks with suggestions on ensuring doctors' safety and acting on the guidelines set by the court. The SC also ordered to ensure that the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Against Women at the Workplace Act (POSH) was followed in hospitals, nursing homes and private healthcare facilities.

CISF Task Force To Be Deployed At RG Kar

The Supreme Court directed the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel to provide security at the tension-ridden RG Kar Hospital. The hospital was vandalised by a mob on August 14, due to which the apex court has asked for added security, especially since many resident doctors have emptied the buildings.

50 FIRs have been filed in the vandalism case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, remarking that this was more of a recipe for ‘not investigating the rape-murder case'. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal added that 37 individuals have been arrested for the vandalism.

SC Asks State Governments To Submit Report

CJI Chandrachud asked all States to collect data on the number of security personnel employed at each hospital; total resting rooms, in the hospital, information on whether all areas of the hospital are accessible to the general public, and other relevant questions.

The states are supposed to submit a report in one month. The Central Bureau of Investigation is also expected to submit an interim report by August 22. Additionally, the West Bengal government has been ordered to submit a report on August 22 on the mob vandalism at RG Kar Hospital.