Court frames charges against civic police volunteer under Sections 64, 66, and 103 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 87 days after a woman doctor was raped and murdered at a Kolkata hospital
A court in Kolkata on Monday framed charges against the prime accused in the rape and murder of a woman doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in the West Bengal capital in August.
The charges against Sanjoy Roy were framed under Sections 64 (punishment for rape), 66 (punishment for causing death or resulting in a persistent vegetative state), and 103 (punishment for murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 87 days after the body of the woman doctor was recovered from the seminar room of the State-run facility on August 9.
The charges against the accused were framed inside the chamber of the Additional District Judge, Sealdah.
Mr. Roy, a civic police volunteer, is the only person who has been charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case. The CBI filed a chargesheet about 28 days ago and listed 11 pieces of evidence against the accused.
After the framing of charges, the court said the trial would start from November 11.
Mr. Roy was arrested by the Kolkata Police a day after the crime. Later, the case was transferred to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court. The Supreme Court is also hearing the matter, and the case is likely to come up for hearing on Tuesday.
Mr. Roy claimed innocence while being taken out of the court premises. “I have done nothing. I have been framed in this rape-murder case. Nobody is listening to me. The government is framing me and threatening me not to open my mouth,” he shouted.
There was speculation from various quarters, including the parents of the victim, that multiple persons could be involved in the case.
Evidence tampering
Meanwhile, the former principal of the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, and the former officer-in-charge of the Tala police station, Abhijit Mondal, faced hearing before a city court on Monday.
During the proceedings, the CBI alleged that Mr. Ghosh and Mr. Mondal had spoken to each other on the telephone but the FIR in the rape-murder case was lodged after a considerable delay. The two were arrested by the CBI and allegations of tampering of evidence have been brought against them.
After hearing counsel of both accused, the court extended their remand in judicial custody till November 18.
On September 25, the CBI claimed that certain false records were created at the Tala police station in connection with the case.
Rally held
Later on Monday, processions were organised by civil rights groups demanding justice for the victim. A section of junior doctors as well as women’s rights groups participated in a protest.