12 Kolkata: The highly anticipated RG Kar rape-murder trial is scheduled to begin in a Sealdah sessions court on Monday with the framing of charges against primary accused Sanjay Roy.
CBI, which is in charge of the investigation, had charge-sheeted Roy 28 days ago. The other two arrested in connection with the rape and murder of the junior doctor on Aug 9 — former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh and former Tala OC Abhijit Mandal — was been implicated for wiping out evidence and conspiracy. They have not yet been charged.
A Sealdah court had earlier directed charges to be framed on Nov 4 and ordered an in camera trial from Nov 5 for four days a week.
Roy had been charged under BNS sections pertaining to rape and murder. If proven, the charges could lead to the death penalty.
In the charge sheet filed on Oct 7, CBI alleged that Roy's involvement was "clearly established" in the "commission of offence". It put forward 11 points based on oral and documentary evidence, forensic reports and evidence against Roy. CCTV footage showed Roy was present on the third floor during the intervening night of Aug 8 and 9. The call details records on his mobile also corroborated his presence on that floor. Roy's lawyers have indicated that they would contest the charges.
The evidence against Roy is substantial: police, which had earlier been in charge of the case, had recovered jeans and footwear belonging to Roy, which the victim's blood stains. DNA samples found on the victim's body also matched Roy's. Furthermore, it had been established that Roy suffered injuries between the midnight of Aug 8 and noon of Aug 9 — the same time the crime had occurred. A bluetooth device found at the spot also paired with Roy's mobile phone.
While CBI did not give details of allegations against Ghosh and Mandal, the agency alleged that "acts or omissions" on the part of Ghosh and Mandal attempted to "hush up the matter". It also accused them of trying to destroy evidence. Mentioning their role in the "larger conspiracy" and possible involvement of others, CBI alleged that they might have been involved in the crime or in abetment.