RG Kar rape-murder case: Convict's mother says justice must prevail

The mother of Sanjay Roy, convicted in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case, has made a heart-wrenching statement, saying she would accept any punishment the court deems fit for her son, even if it means a death sentence.

"If my son is guilty, he should face the punishment he deserves," said Malati, a 70-year-old woman who has faced the storm of public outrage and personal grief since the case began. Standing at the doorstep of her humble shanty on Shambhunath Pandit Street, just five kilometers from the bustling Sealdah Court, she added, "I will cry alone, but I will accept it as destiny."

The court convicted Roy on January 18 for the heinous crime of raping and murdering a medic who was on duty. The quantum of punishment is scheduled to be announced on Monday.

A former civic volunteer with the Kolkata police, Roy was the only person arrested in connection with the case. His mother, who initially avoided speaking to the media, expressed solidarity with the victim's family. "As a woman and a mother of three daughters, I can feel the anguish and pain of the mother of the victim. She is like my daughter too," Malati said, her voice trembling with emotion.

Despite her failing health, Malati revealed she had not attended any court hearings or met her son during the trial. "Why should I? If the charges were found untrue, I would have gone. But now that his crime is proven, I won’t challenge the law," she said.

Sanjay Roy’s elder sister echoed similar sentiments, saying the family has no intention of appealing the verdict. "If he is proven guilty, the law should take its course," she stated, speaking from her in-laws’ residence near their mother’s home. Another sister, covering her face partially with a dupatta, pleaded for privacy, saying, "Please leave us alone. We are shattered."

The conviction has brought both closure and sorrow to the families involved, while the victim’s mother and the larger public await the court’s decision on the punishment.

This case serves as a somber reminder of the devastating consequences of violence, the pain it brings to all parties, and the unwavering demand for justice.