The father of a postgraduate trainee doctor, brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College in August 2024, has criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for failing to conduct a thorough probe. He claimed this failure prevented the accused, Sanjay Roy, from receiving the death penalty.

A Kolkata court on Monday sentenced Roy to life imprisonment until death, rejecting calls for the death penalty, stating it was “not the rarest of the rare” case. The crime, which triggered widespread protests in West Bengal, has left the victim's family and the public demanding stronger justice.

“We trust the judiciary but are disappointed with the CBI's incomplete investigation,” said the victim's father. “Had the investigation been proper, Sanjay would have been hanged.” He also accused the Kolkata Police, under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's administration, of tampering with evidence during the initial investigation.

Banerjee responded, claiming the case was forcibly taken from the Kolkata Police and suggesting they could have ensured the death penalty. However, the victim's father reiterated his belief that more than one person was involved in the crime, a claim dismissed by the court.

The court imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on Roy and directed the West Bengal government to pay ₹17 lakh in compensation to the family. The father, however, refused the compensation, vowing to continue his fight for justice.

The case highlights lingering questions about investigative lapses and the justice system's ability to address heinous crimes effectively. The family remains determined to appeal for harsher punishment and accountability for all culprits involved.