Verdict in R.G. Kar Medical College Rape and Murder Case – What Happened Throughout the Day in Court

Verdict Delivered in R.G. Kar Rape and Murder Case at Sealdah Court on Saturday

Sanjay Rai, a civic volunteer of Kolkata Police, has been convicted for the rape and murder of a medical student at R.G. Kar Medical College. The judge of Sealdah Court will announce his sentence on Monday.

According to legal experts, the charges under which Mr. Rai has been found guilty could result in either life imprisonment or the death penalty.

By 1 PM, Room 210 on the third floor of Sealdah Court, presided over by Justice Anirban Das, was packed to capacity with no space left to stand.

This room had been the venue for the rape and murder trial of the R.G. Kar Medical College student for nearly two months. Sanjay Rai, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, remained the only arrested individual in the case so far.

Until now, entry into the courtroom had been restricted to lawyers and witnesses due to an "in-camera" trial, as ordered by the judge, meaning the proceedings were held privately.

Since morning, activists from civic movements had gathered outside the court, raising slogans.

Around 1 PM, the main and sole accused, Sanjay Rai, was brought to court in a black prison van.

Typically, prison vans have barred windows, allowing a glimpse of the prisoners inside, but on Saturday, there was no chance of seeing Sanjay Rai. The van was completely enclosed, escorted by police in front and behind. The van drove directly into the court premises, and Rai was escorted out within its confines.

The arrested Sanjay Rai was brought to court

Victim’s Parents Present in Court

In Kolkata, a city repeatedly ranked among the safest, a young medical student on duty was raped and murdered on August 9 last year at a bustling government hospital. Within four days, the Calcutta High Court handed the investigation over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The incident sparked an unprecedented civic movement from August to October last year. Junior doctors staged sit-ins, and hunger strikes for nearly two months in protest. The agitation compelled Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to engage in multiple rounds of discussions, making it arguably one of the most significant protests of her political career. The entire state awaited the announcement of the verdict.

Political leaders were also keenly watching the developments.

Inside the courtroom, a sea of journalists, lawyers, and police officers had gathered. Among them sat an elderly couple — the parents of the medical student who had been raped and murdered.

At 2:15 PM, Justice Anirban Das of Sealdah Court ordered Sanjay Rai to be brought into the courtroom, and by 2:32 PM, the verdict was delivered.

The judge declared, "Based on the examination of all witnesses and the evidence presented by the CBI, it is clear that the accused is guilty. Punishment will follow."

Lawyers present in court recounted that just before the pronouncement of guilt, Sanjay Rai repeatedly claimed to the judge that he was being framed. After being declared guilty, he stated, "I am poor; I did not commit this crime. Why are the real culprits being let go?"

He was forcibly removed from the courtroom at this point.

The victim’s father (not visible) speaking to the media after the verdict

"We Have Climbed the First Step of Justice"

Parthasarathi Dutta, the lawyer representing the central agency handling the investigation, later stated, "The CBI had submitted the chargesheet under Sections 64, 66, and 103(1A) of the Indian Penal Code, and the charges were framed accordingly. The accused has now been convicted under those sections.

"The sections under which he has been found guilty carry provisions for both life imprisonment and the death penalty. The court will determine on Monday which sentence to impose," Mr. Dutta explained.

Justice Anirban Das also stated that before announcing the sentence on Monday, Sanjay Rai will be given an opportunity to speak.

Sanjay Rai was escorted back in the same manner he had been brought to court.

Outside, the crowd continued chanting slogans demanding his execution.

Sometime later, the family of the raped and murdered medical student emerged from the court.

Speaking to the media, the victim's father thanked the judge, saying, "Today, we have crossed the first step of justice, and we believe that the judgment will allow us to climb the second step as well. We always had faith that he would deliver such a verdict, and he has justified our trust. We are immensely grateful to the judge for how he handled this case, though words are not enough to express our gratitude."

Civic movement activists question whether only one person is guilty

Is Only One Person Guilty?

The victim's family had already raised numerous questions about the CBI investigation before the Calcutta High Court. They, along with a large section of the general public and the deceased student’s peers, believe that Sanjay Rai could not have committed the crime alone. They are convinced that others were involved.

One of the family's lawyers, Amartya De, commented, "A supplementary chargesheet has not yet been filed. We remain hopeful, as does the family, that a thorough investigation will reveal the identities of all those involved."

Amolendu Bhushan Chowdhury, a member of the civic movement present in court on Saturday, remarked, "People have come to understand that instead of capturing the true culprits, one person has been scapegoated to claim that justice was served. No individual alone can commit such a heinous murder."

The victim, the murdered young medical student, was identified by the pseudonyms Abhaya and Tilottama.

At the end of the day, as the activists gathered outside the court marched away, they continued chanting slogans that had echoed since August: "Tilottama has no fear; we haven’t left the streets."

According to them, they will wrestle the final justice from the system.