RG Kar Case: Sanjoy Roy Leaves Jail Cell, Asks For 2 Things

Sanjoy Roy, convicted for the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, has stepped out of his cell for the first time since his life sentence.

Held in Kolkata’s Presidency Jail, Sanjoy Roy was allowed out for a few hours and made two requests: a notebook and a pen.

Authorities are unsure of his intentions but have granted his request. Roy continues to proclaim his innocence and is kept under strict surveillance.

Sanjoy Roy Leaves Jail Cell for First Time

Since his conviction, Sanjoy Roy has been lodged alone in Cell No 6 and is under 24×7 surveillance. He was allowed to come out of his closed cell for a few hours for the first time on Tuesday. Roy has been in Presidency Jail since August 23, 2024. He stays locked in his cell, except when he goes to court.

Government Seeks Death Penalty

The West Bengal government has moved the Calcutta High Court seeking the death penalty for Roy, challenging the order of the trial court that sentenced him to life imprisonment until death. The Sealdah court had sentenced Sanjoy Roy to life imprisonment until death after he was convicted of raping and murdering the on-duty doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, rejecting demands for the death penalty saying it was not a “rarest of the rare” crime.

CBI Challenges State’s Appeal

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has challenged the West Bengal government’s appeal against the life sentence handed to Roy. The state government had sought the death penalty for Sanjoy Roy after a sessions court granted him a life sentence. The matter is being heard by a division bench consisting of Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi. The CBI’s lawyer argued that the state could not file appeals in cases managed by central agencies. He said only the central government had that power.

Supreme Court to Hear Plea

Amid growing calls for the death penalty for Roy, the Supreme Court is set to hear a suo motu plea regarding the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The top court will look at a new request from the victim’s parents. They say there were problems in the investigation and want a deeper inquiry into the case.

Sealdah Court’s Verdict

The Sealdah court sentenced Sanjoy Roy to life in prison. He was found guilty of raping and murdering a doctor who was on duty at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The court also ordered Roy to pay a Rs 50,000 fine and directed the state government to pay compensation of Rs 17 lakh to the family of the deceased doctor. The judge stated that the case did not meet the stringent criteria for imposing the death penalty.

Roy’s Daily Life in Jail

Sanjoy Roy has been kept under strict surveillance, and all his movements are being monitored. Each time Roy speaks, he proclaims innocence. He reportedly told officials that he had to drop out of school after the death of his father so he could help his younger sister complete her education.

Life convicts are usually assigned daily work as per the jail code, but in Roy’s case, he will not be allowed to go out of jail like other life convicts, considering the security risk. The jail authorities will assign him light work near his cell, considering these security parameters.

On Monday, June 2, 2025, the Supreme Court sent a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the West Bengal government. This notice concerns the plea made by the victim’s parents. The apex court wants a detailed response about lapses in the original investigation. It has set a hearing date for June 20. Legal experts say the outcome could impact both the sentence and the future course of the case.