The parents of the doctor who was a victim of a brutal rape and murder at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024 have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, confirmed this development. However, it is yet to be decided if any of them will be the BJP candidate from Panihati Assembly Constituency in North 24 Parganas district, where they are registered voters.
The BJP has released two candidate lists for the upcoming two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal next month, but the candidate for Panihati is still pending announcement. Adhikari mentioned that the decision on whether a family member of the victim will contest from Panihati rests with the party’s central leadership. The state committee has already shared its view on the matter with the central leadership, awaiting the final decision.
The victim, a female doctor, was found dead within the R.G. Kar premises on August 9, 2024. The Kolkata Police initiated the investigation and arrested Sanjay Roy, a former civic volunteer, as the prime suspect. Subsequently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case as per the Calcutta High Court’s directive, identifying Roy as the sole accused of the rape and murder. Roy was later convicted by a Kolkata trial court and sentenced to life imprisonment. The CBI has appealed for the death penalty for Roy at the Calcutta High Court.
