A resident near R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, claiming to be a prosecution witness in the rape and murder case, approached the Calcutta High Court alleging his residence was vandalised after West Bengal Assembly election results and seeking urgent protection.
A resident living near R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, who claims to be a prosecution witness in the high-profile rape and murder case linked to the institution, approached the Calcutta High Court alleging that his residence was vandalised after the declaration of the West Bengal Assembly election results.
The matter was mentioned before Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya by counsel appearing for Sanjib Mukherjee. Mukherjee’s lawyer sought permission to file a petition and requested an urgent hearing, claiming that immediate protection was required in light of the alleged attack.
However, the court declined to grant urgent listing at this stage. Justice Bhattacharyya directed the petitioner to formally file the plea and serve notice upon the concerned parties. The court observed that the matter would thereafter be taken up according to the regular serial listing procedure.
During the mentioning of the case, Mukherjee’s counsel informed the court that his client had served as a prosecution witness in the sensational rape and murder trial involving a young doctor from R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The lawyer stated that Mukherjee feared for his safety after his house was allegedly targeted following the recently concluded Assembly elections in West Bengal. According to the submission made before the court, the attack on the property was allegedly connected to the politically charged atmosphere surrounding the case and the election outcome.
No detailed order was passed on the allegations at this preliminary stage, and the High Court has not yet examined the merits of the claims made in the proposed petition.
Background of the R G Kar Rape and Murder Case
The R G Kar Medical College and Hospital case had sparked nationwide outrage and led to widespread protests by doctors, medical students, civil society groups and opposition political parties across the country.
The victim, a junior doctor associated with the hospital, was found dead under suspicious circumstances inside the hospital premises in Kolkata in August last year. The incident triggered serious concerns regarding the safety of medical professionals, especially women doctors working night shifts in government hospitals.
The brutal nature of the crime led to prolonged demonstrations by junior doctors and healthcare workers in West Bengal, with protesters demanding a fair investigation, accountability of authorities and stronger security measures in hospitals.
The case also drew political attention, with opposition parties accusing the state government of failing to ensure workplace safety and transparency during the investigation.
Following investigation and trial proceedings, Sanjay Roy was found guilty by the Sealdah sessions court in connection with the rape and murder of the doctor. The court subsequently sentenced Roy to life imprisonment. The prosecution had relied on witness testimonies, forensic evidence and other materials gathered during the investigation to establish the charges against him.
The conviction, however, did not fully end public debate surrounding the case, as several groups continued to raise questions regarding broader institutional accountability and the handling of the matter during its early stages.
The case once again entered the political spotlight during the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections after the victim’s mother contested the polls as a candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
She was elected to the West Bengal Assembly on a BJP ticket, adding a new political dimension to an already emotionally charged case. Her candidature had attracted significant public attention during the election campaign, with the BJP projecting the issue as symbolic of law-and-order concerns and justice for women in the state.
Against this backdrop, Mukherjee’s allegations regarding vandalism of his house following the election results have further intensified attention on the continuing tensions linked to the case.
The Calcutta High Court is expected to consider the petition after it is formally filed and listed for hearing in accordance with court procedure.
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