Calcutta HC bench recuses itself from RG Kar rape-murder case; case redirected to Chief Justice Sujoy Paul

The division bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha and Justice Rai Chattopadhyay recused itself from further hearing on the petition for a fresh investigation after having directed the CBI to start a fresh probe in April. The case was redirected to the bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul.

The BJP won the Bengal assembly elections and formed the government; Ratna Debnath, the victim’s mother, was fielded by BJP and won the Panihati seat.

The division bench of Justice Mantha granted the CBI permission to re-interrogate Sanjay Roy and to interrogate other suspects, and allowed use of modern technology to unearth the larger conspiracy; the bench directed that the CBI start a fresh probe in April.

Sanjay Roy was sentenced to imprisonment for the rest of life in January 2025.

The Calcutta High Court ordered the CBI to take over the case from the Kolkata Police.

Kolkata Police arrested 34-year-old Sanjay Roy, the sole convict in the case, in connection with the crime.

The body of the 31-year-old second-year postgraduate student, who was raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was found.

The CBI and Enforcement Directorate began a parallel probe into alleged corruption at RG Kar Hospital and arrested several people including the then college principal Dr Sandip Ghosh.