The Tragic Death of Dr Abhaya: A Story of Injustice That Shook Kolkata

The Tragic Death of Dr Abhaya: A Story of Injustice That Shook Kolkata

A Doctor's Dream Cut Short

On 9 August 2024, a young doctor named Abhaya (meaning "fearless" – her real name was kept private) was raped and murdered inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

From childhood, Abhaya had dreamed of becoming a doctor to serve poor people. She used to play with her dolls, pretending to be a doctor treating patients. At 31 years old, she was a final-year postgraduate trainee in the gynaecology department, working gruelling day and night shifts because of staff shortages and inadequate facilities.

The Night of Horror

On that fateful day, after an exhausting shift, Abhaya went to the seminar hall around 2:00 AM to rest. There she was raped and murdered.

The hospital's principal, Dr Sandip Ghosh, was informed about the incident the next morning around 9:58 AM, but he arrived much later. Despite clear evidence of severe injuries on her body, he declared the case a suicide. He even ordered the demolition of the crime scene, claiming it was for renovation—effectively wiping out crucial evidence.

The Web of Corruption

At that time, Dr Sandip Ghosh was deeply involved in various scams and corruption:

- Rigging tenders for medical equipment

- Creating fake bills

- Pocketing bribes

- Making unauthorised foreign trips

Many suspected that Abhaya had been a whistleblower exposing these activities, though this was never confirmed. However, the timing of the incident strongly suggested a connection.

A deputy superintendent at the hospital revealed that Ghosh had awarded lucrative contracts to his close "friends," siphoning off lakhs of rupees. The CBI raided his house and seized documents proving fraud. Ghosh was taken into custody and jailed for various fraud and scam cases.

The Convicted Man – But Was He Alone?

A 33-year-old civic volunteer named Sanjoy Roy was arrested for the crime. He wasn't supposed to be in that area, but he had free access to roam throughout the hospital as he pleased. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment with a cash fine. but Sanjoy every time pleaded he was not guilty.

However, many people strongly believe this was not a one-man crime. There were footprints and other evidence suggesting the presence of multiple people at the scene.

A City Demands Justice

After the crime, doctors across Kolkata took to the streets in protest. They went on hunger strikes and marched demanding justice for Abhaya. Even ordinary citizens of Kolkata marched through the night, crying out for justice.

Justice Denied?

Most people still believe that Abhaya did not receive proper justice. The injuries on her body clearly indicated that multiple people were involved in the crime. However, due to lack of sufficient evidence, it proved impossible to convict anyone else.

In this way, justice fell silent, and the real culprits continue to walk free.

Abhaya's story remains a painful reminder of how institutional corruption, destroyed evidence, and inadequate investigations can rob victims of the justice they deserve—even when the truth seems obvious to everyone watching.