Sanjay Roy, the prime suspect in the tragic rape and murder case of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, has a disturbing history of troubled relationships and alleged violent behavior. The ongoing police investigation is expected to reveal the current status of the case and the actions taken against those involved.
Reports indicate that Roy was married four times, with three of his previous wives leaving him due to his abusive conduct. His fourth wife, according to neighbors, passed away last year from cancer. However, Roy’s mother, Malati Roy, has staunchly defended her son against the allegations. “I’ve faced hardships ever since Sanjay was born,” Malati told a leading newspaper, expressing disbelief that her son could commit such a heinous crime. She mentioned that Roy last visited the family during the Holi festival.
Contrastingly, Roy’s mother-in-law painted a different picture, alleging that Roy had a history of violence towards women. “He married my daughter without revealing his previous marriages. Once we learned the truth, we discovered more about his troubling behavior. We even lodged a police complaint against him for abusing my daughter,” she told a news channel.
Roy’s neighbors also shared their experiences, describing him as a “nuisance,” particularly when intoxicated. “He would bang on doors and hurl insults late at night. We demand the harshest punishment for him,” said Kamala Das, a neighbor.
Who is Sanjay Roy?
Roy began his career in 2019 as a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police’s Disaster Management Group. Over time, he used his connections to transfer to the Welfare Cell of the police department. Although civic volunteers are temporary workers earning around Rs 12,000 per month and assisting with tasks such as traffic control and disaster response, Roy falsely portrayed himself as a full-fledged Kolkata Police officer. He was often seen wearing t-shirts with the Kolkata Police (KP) logo and even had a KP tag on his motorcycle.
Interestingly, Roy was known as a cook by interns and students at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where he had previously worked. After a brief absence, he returned, claiming to be a police volunteer, which granted him unrestricted access to various hospital areas. “He would often be seen standing guard at the emergency gate or trauma ward,” recalled an intern. “Our seniors mentioned he was once a cook.”
Roy’s involvement with the police outpost at RG Kar Hospital allegedly allowed him to exploit vulnerable individuals, promising jobs in the police force or as civic volunteers, as well as securing hospital admissions for a fee. His arrest was facilitated by a vital piece of evidence: a pair of Bluetooth earphones. CCTV footage captured Roy entering the hospital with the earphones, which were missing when he exited. The police recovered a torn piece of the earphones and linked it back to Roy. Additionally, explicit material was discovered on his phone.
Roy has been charged under sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the BNS and has been remanded to police custody until August 23, following his appearance in Sealdah court.