Case file
2024 Kolkata rape and murder
On the night of 8 August 2024, a 31-year-old postgraduate resident physician at R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, had dinner with colleagues and retired in a seminar hall after a 36-hour shift. At around 9:30 IST on 9 August, her body was discovered in the seminar hall in a semi-nude state with bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and genitals. College authorities initially told her family she had died by suicide, but an autopsy conducted that day led to registration of an unnatural death case.
The autopsy found that the victim had been raped and sexually assaulted before being strangled, with a fractured thyroid cartilage and deep wounds to her genital tract, lips, left leg, right hand, ring finger, neck, and face. Scratch marks on her face were assessed as consistent with fingernail injuries from an assailant. Reports of the amount of semen recovered from a vaginal swab led some doctors and the victim's parents to suggest possible gang rape; Kolkata Police disputed this, and a subsequent CBI investigation, reported in March 2025, concluded the incident was not an instance of gang rape.
On 10 August 2024, civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, who worked with the Kolkata Police disaster management force, was arrested on suspicion of committing the crime and reportedly gave an initial confession. On 13 August, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing lack of confidence in the Kolkata Police probe and possible risk of evidence destruction. Polygraph testing of Roy revealed inconsistencies in his account. Separately, the CBI investigated former college principal Sandip Ghosh and others over alleged financial irregularities and evidence handling; Ghosh was arrested multiple times in connection with financial fraud and later with alleged destruction of evidence, and Station House Officer Abhijit Mondal was also detained over evidence-tampering allegations. On 7 October 2024, the CBI filed a chargesheet against Roy for rape and murder.
The case triggered a 42-day strike by junior doctors in West Bengal demanding thorough investigation and improved hospital security, alongside nationwide "Reclaim the Night" protests, medical-fraternity strikes across India, and international demonstrations by the Indian diaspora in multiple countries. The Supreme Court of India took suo moto cognizance of the case, constituted a National Task Force to recommend workplace-safety measures for medical professionals, and ordered central security forces to protect the hospital. The West Bengal government subsequently introduced the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill, which was criticized by some legal commentators as a political response.
On 18 January 2025, Roy was convicted of rape and murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a fine and a compensation order for the victim's family; the trial judge, Anirban Das, declined to impose the death penalty. The victim's parents and some political figures publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence.
Key facts
- Victims
- On file
- Date
- 2024
- Location
- R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
- Case status
- solved
Case timeline
2024-08-08
Victim has dinner with colleagues and retires in a seminar hall after a 36-hour hospital shift.
2024-08-09
Victim's body is found in the seminar hall in a semi-nude state; an autopsy is conducted and an unnatural death case is registered.
2024-08-10
Civic volunteer Sanjay Roy is arrested on suspicion of the rape and murder.
2024-08-13
Calcutta High Court transfers the investigation to the CBI, citing lack of confidence in the Kolkata Police probe.
2024-08-15
Police use tear gas and baton charges against demonstrators after a crowd vandalizes parts of R.G. Kar Medical College.
2024-08-18
Supreme Court of India takes suo moto cognizance of the case.
2024-08-20
Supreme Court constitutes a National Task Force for workplace safety of medical professionals.
2024-08-25
CBI raids the residence of former principal Sandip Ghosh and former vice-principal Sanjay Vashisth, seizing documents; files an FIR over financial irregularities.
2024-09-02
CBI arrests Sandip Ghosh along with three others over financial irregularities at the hospital.
2024-09-03
West Bengal Health Department suspends Sandip Ghosh.
2024-09-14
Sandip Ghosh and Station House Officer Abhijit Mondal are detained/arrested over alleged destruction of evidence.
2024-10-07
CBI files a preliminary chargesheet against Sanjay Roy for rape and murder.
2024-12-11
Victim's lead legal counsel Vrinda Grover withdraws from the case.
2025-01-18
Sanjay Roy is convicted of rape and murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
2025-01-20
Roy is sentenced to life imprisonment and fined; the court orders compensation to the victim's family.
2025-01-29
West Bengal state government approves CBI prosecution of Sandip Ghosh on corruption charges.
2025-03-29
CBI submits a report to the Calcutta High Court concluding the incident was not an instance of gang rape.
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People
Sanjay Roy
CONVICTEDCivic volunteer with the Kolkata Police disaster management force, convicted on 18 January 2025 of rape and murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Sandip Ghosh
CHARGEDFormer principal of R. G. Kar Medical College; arrested and charged by the CBI in connection with financial irregularities and alleged destruction of evidence related to the case.
Abhijit Mondal
CHARGEDStation House Officer of Tala Police Station, detained and accused of tampering with evidence and misleading the investigation.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Archival records
archival location
Mostly women came together on road for Reclaim the night movement in kolkata on 4 September 2024 01
Credit: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
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Protestors involved in protest march for R.G. Kar Hospital Rape and Murder 2024 at Kolkata 03
Credit: Porshi Photographer · CC BY 4.0 · Source
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Protestors involved in protest march for R.G. Kar Hospital Rape and Murder 2024 at Kolkata 01
Credit: Porshi Photographer · CC BY 4.0 · Source
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Protestors involved in protest march for R.G. Kar Hospital Rape and Murder 2024 at Kolkata 02
Credit: Porshi Photographer · CC BY 4.0 · Source
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Protestors involved in protest march for R.G. Kar Hospital Rape and Murder 2024 at Kolkata 07
Credit: Porshi Photographer · CC BY 4.0 · Source
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Protestors involved in protest march for R.G. Kar Hospital Rape and Murder 2024 at Kolkata 12
Credit: Porshi Photographer · CC BY 4.0 · Source
unclassified
Protestors involved in protest march for R.G. Kar Hospital Rape and Murder 2024 at Kolkata 04
Credit: Porshi Photographer · CC BY 4.0 · Source
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- A 31-year-old postgraduate resident doctor was raped and murdered inside a seminar room at R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024, sparking nationwide protests and a strike by junior doctors; civic volunteer Sanjay Roy was convicted of the crime and sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2025.
- Where did the murder happen?
- R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
- Who was convicted?
- Sanjay Roy (Civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police disaster management force, convicted on 18 January 2025 of rape and murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sentenced to life imprisonment.).
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.
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Sources
- 2024 Kolkata rape and murderwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
- Contemporaneous coverage — BBC Newsnews · BBC News · 2026-07-07
- Contemporaneous coverage — The Independentnews · The Independent · 2026-07-07
Last verified JUL 2026