“Highly disappointed. This is not over, yet”: Doctors’ association FORDA after RG Kar convict gets life term

New Delhi [India], January 20 (ANI): The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) expressed disappointment after the RG Kar convict, Sanjay Roy was sentenced to life in prison earlier in the day.

“A terrible judgement. We as a nation should be ashamed,” it said in strong disapproval of the verdict.

Taking to X, FORDA said, “You can get away with a brutal #Rape&Murder with just #Lifeimprisonment in India. What a shame! “

“Highly disappointed. This is not over, yet,” the post added.

The Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court announced life imprisonment for the accused Sanjay Roy in the RG Kar rape and murder case on Monday. Along with this, the court has also fined Rs 50,000 to the accused.

During the hearing of the case, the Central Bureau of Investigation sought “capital punishment” for the accused Sanjay Roy.

Explaining the penalties of the section, the court said to the accused Sanjay Roy, “I told you the previous day the charges you were convicted against and the charges that have been proven against you.”

When asked about his charges, accused Sanjay Roy claimed that he has not done anything and is being “falsely implicated.”

“I have not done anything, neither rape nor murder. I am being falsely implicated. You have seen everything. I am innocent. I already told you that I was tortured. They made me sign whatever they wanted,” accused Sanjay Roy said.

The lawyer of the accused argued that even if the case is “rarest of rare,” there should be scope for reformation. He said, “Even if it is a rarest of rare cases, there should be scope for reformation. The court has to show why the convict is not worth reformation or rehabilitation… The public prosecutor has to present evidence and give reasons why the person is not worth reformation and should be completely eliminated from society…”

However, the victim’s family lawyer said, “I want the death sentence as maximum punishment…”

The father of the victim had demanded the harshest punishment to the accused. He said their fight will continue on the streets and in the courts.

“On Saturday, the judge said that the harshest punishment would be given (to the accused). We have full faith in the judge. Our fight will continue in the courts and streets,” the father of the deceased doctor told ANI.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed dissatisfaction over the court giving life imprisonment to the convict in the RG Kar hospital rape-murder case and said if the case had been with Kolkata Police, they would have ensured a death penalty.

“I learned about the sentencing from the media. We have always demanded capital punishment and we continue to stand by it. However, this is the court’s decision and I can’t say much about this. For three other cases, Kolkata police ensured capital punishment through thorough investigations concluded within 54-60 days. This was a serious case. Had it been under our purview, we would have ensured the death penalty long back,” CM Mamata said while addressing the media at Malda.

On Saturday, the Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court pronounced Sanjay Roy guilty. The court said sections 64,66, 103/1 of BNS have been framed against the accused.

“There is a complaint against the accused that he went to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and went to the seminar room, assaulted and murdered the lady doctor taking rest there,” the court said.

The case, which involves the rape and murder of a trainee doctor whose body was found on August 9 in the hospital’s seminar room, sparked widespread protests. After the incident, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer at the hospital, was arrested in connection with the crime.