KOLKATA – A 33-year-old man on trial for the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata has pleaded not guilty, claiming he was framed, his lawyer said on December 21. The brutal crime, which occurred on August 9, has ignited widespread protests across India and renewed outrage over violence against women.
Sanjoy Roy, the accused, was a civic volunteer at the government hospital where the doctor’s bloodied body was discovered. Arrested the day after the murder, Roy could face the death penalty if convicted.
During a closed court session on December 20, Roy denied the charges. “I am not guilty, your honour. I have been framed,” he reportedly told Judge Anirban Das, who questioned him for six hours during his deposition. The trial, which began on November 11, has so far heard testimony from around 50 witnesses. The next hearing is scheduled for January 2, 2025.
The crime triggered weeks-long strikes by doctors in Kolkata and protests by tens of thousands of Indians, demanding greater security for female healthcare workers. India’s Supreme Court, addressing the public outcry, has ordered the formation of a national task force to enhance safety measures for healthcare professionals, calling the attack a case that “shocked the conscience of the nation.”
The gruesome attack has drawn comparisons to the infamous 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman on a Delhi bus, which also spurred weeks of demonstrations and led to significant legal reforms.