RG Kar lifer Sanjay Roy gets gardener’s job in jail
Times of India | 21 May 2025
12 Kolkata: Four months into serving his life sentence, former Kolkata Police civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, convicted for raping and murdering a 31-year-old doctor at RG Kar Hospitalon Aug 8, last year, has been assigned to gardening duties at the Presidency Correctional Home. Roy, 35, who was sentenced on Jan 20 for the crime, now earns Rs 80 daily as an "unskilled" worker, according to prison officials.He is housed in cell number 6 and spends his days tending to the prison garden and maintaining his cell."Initially, he appeared despondent and withdrawn," said a prison official who requested anonymity. "But over time, he adjusted to the routine and became more engaged in his assigned tasks. He also started opening up to other convicts."The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which led the investigation, has so far identified Roy as the sole perpetrator in the brutal attack that happened inside the hospital's fourth-floor seminar hall. The CBI, though, has repeated that the probe is far from over. The case, which shocked the consciousness of the nation, and the medical community in particular, concluded with Roy's conviction after 164 days.Prior to his arrest, Roy wielded considerable influence within the police department despite his volunteer status. He had unauthorised access to a police motorcycle and lived in Barrack B14 of the Kolkata Police's 4th Battalion, privileges he wasn't officially entitled to. A former boxer, he tried maintaining a larger-than-life image and believed he could not be touched.Now, under prison regulations, Roy can only access half of his earnings — Rs 40 a day — for personal needs while incarcerated. The remaining amount is held in a designated bank account, either for family support with proper authorisation or for release upon completion of his sentence. The correctional facility's work programme includes three categories: unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled, with daily wages ranging from Rs 80 to Rs 100."The first three months are typically an observation period before assigning permanent work duties," said a senior prison administrator. "Subsequent assignments depend on the inmate's efficiency and conduct," he added.Despite his lawyer's announcement following the Sealdah lower court verdict, no appeal has been filed on behalf of Roy in the HC to date. Roy, who previously resided at Shambhunath Pandit Street and allegedly used his position as a civic volunteer to gain unrestricted access to various govt hospitals, including RG Kar and NRS, before committing the crime, has also been showing fewer tantrums, though other convicts still largely avoid him after knowing the crime he committed, claimed jail administrators.Prison authorities continue to monitor Roy's rehabilitation progress as he serves his life sentence, with his daily routine now centred around gardening duties and prison protocols, a stark contrast to his former life of influence and authority.