Court Denies Narcoanalysis for Accused in RG Kar Hospital Case Amid Growing Protests in Bengal

The Sealdah court rejected CBI's request for a narcoanalysis test on Sanjay Roy, accused in the RG Kar Hospital case. Protests continue in West Bengal over the incident, with significant political fallout including the Chief Minister's offer to resign. The Supreme Court's previous ruling protects Roy's consent rights.

The Sealdah court on Friday rejected the Central Bureau of Investigation's plea to subject Sanjay Roy to a narcoanalysis test in the ongoing RG Kar Hospital case. Presented for a closed-door hearing, Roy's consent was sought but he refused, making the CBI's request unconstitutional.

"Accused Sanjay Roy didn't give his consent for the narcoanalysis test. As per the 2010 Supreme Court judgment, conducting such tests without consent violates fundamental rights," the court noted. This verdict aligns with the Selvi vs. State of Karnataka case, where the Supreme Court ruled that narcoanalysis, brain mapping, and polygraph tests without consent breach the 'right against self-incrimination' under Article 20(3) and the 'right to privacy' under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Meanwhile, protests continue in Kolkata, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and junior doctors, demanding justice for the rape and murder of a second-year PG student at RG Kar Medical College. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee offered to resign, emphasizing her focus on justice for the victim and ensuring medical services for the public. In solidarity with the protests, Governor C V Ananda Bose declared a social boycott of the Chief Minister, promising to avoid any public engagements with her. The political landscape continues to be tense as public outrage over the case grows.

(With inputs from agencies.)