When horrifying crimes take place, like the recent RG Kar College rape and murder case in West Bengal, society demands swift and transparent justice. Yet, time and again, the judicial process appears slow and flawed. It’s not uncommon for the justice system to delay actions, hearings, and investigations, leaving victims and their families to wait indefinitely.

This case is no exception. Sanjay Roy, who used to work as a civic police volunteer, has been found guilty of raping and murdering a medical student doing her postgraduate studies. He faces either life imprisonment or the death penalty for his crime. However, the investigation took a very long time, and even now, many important questions about what happened remain unanswered. The crime was committed months ago, yet many critical questions remain unanswered. Why was there a delay in filing the FIR? Why did the police and other authorities fail to take immediate action? These gaps only increase suspicions about inefficiency or intentional cover-ups.

Is the system failing us?

This case reminds us of the Nirbhaya case in 2012, where people across the country protested, and the government was pressured to make changes. But over time, more such cases keep happening. Leaders often make big promises during these moments, but those promises are forgotten later. In the RG Kar College case, like always, there were protests, calls for justice, and promises from politicians. But real changes to fix the system are still missing.Top of FormBottom of Form

Even though a verdict has been given, it’s hard to ignore that there might be bigger issues involved. Roy says he is innocent and has accused an IPS officer, which is a serious claim that needs proper investigation. This raises an important question: can justice truly be served if other people involved or those in powerful positions are not properly investigated?Top of FormBottom of Form

The investigation of this terrible crime had many mistakes. At first, the West Bengal government tried to fix things by transferring the hospital’s superintendent and changing the leadership. However, this seemed like a shallow attempt to handle the situation. People across the country protested, showing that they didn’t trust the system to deliver justice.Top of FormBottom of Form

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) noticed clear signs that the victim had struggled, but the police and other agencies seemed slow to act. The National Commission for Women also raised alarms, saying there were mistakes, including claims that the crime scene was fixed up too soon, which might have destroyed important evidence.Top of FormBottom of Form If this is how sensitive cases are handled, how can we expect justice to be thorough and fair?

The handling of evidence was also highly questionable. According to a doctor from RG Kar College, multiple DNA samples were found, but only Roy was identified. CCTV footage captured the movements of 68 individuals, yet no clear investigation into other suspects was conducted. The crime scene itself lacked evidence of a struggle, raising doubts about where the crime truly occurred.

Were the authorities complicit?

The authorities played a questionable role in this case. There are claims that officials delayed taking action or even messed with evidence, which has made people doubt the system even more. Sandip Ghosh, who was the college's principal, was arrested for reportedly tampering with evidence. But because the CBI didn’t file the charges on time, he and others were released on bail. If those in charge of ensuring justice don't act properly, it weakens the entire system, and people lose trust in it.

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Public trust takes another hit when political movements overshadow the core issue. While the protests were necessary to bring attention to the crime, they also became platforms for political parties to score points rather than prioritise reforms.

Does the verdict bring closure?

Sanjay Roy has been sentenced to life imprisonment, and the court confirmed his DNA was found on the victim. While this decision is a positive step, many important questions are still unanswered. Was Roy the only person responsible? What about his claim that an IPS officer was involved in the crime?

The investigation seems incomplete, and the delays have made people uneasy and doubtful. The victim’s family and the public deserve proper answers, not just a decision that seems hurried to hide deeper problems. Justice can only be real when every part of such cases is fully investigated and made clear.

What needs to change?

The RG Kar case shows that India still doesn't handle crimes against women well. Promises for better safety and laws often don't lead to real change. To improve, the government needs to speed up investigations, handle evidence properly, punish officials who try to block justice, and teach people about their legal rights. The truth in this case isn't fully clear, and while some justice has been served, it doesn't feel enough. Until the system changes, crimes like these will continue, leaving people without answers and trust in the system lost.