Kolkata Rape-Murder: Why Was Sanjoy Roy's Bike Registered Under Police Commissioner's Name?

New Delhi: Sanjoy Roy, the accused in the rape and murder of a PG student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was found to be using a bike registered under the name of Kolkata's Commissioner of Police, several media reports claimed. Roy allegedly used this bike to visit red-light areas in north Kolkata on the day the crime (August 9). The bike, registered in 2014, is now under scrutiny as part of the investigation.  

Meanwhile, as the information emerged, the Kolkata police issued a clarification. It confessed that the bike was indeed registered in the name of the police commissioner. "However, it is customary for all government vehicles to be registered under the name of the police commissioner", a statement issued by the Kolkata police read.

"The bike used by Sanjoy Roy -- principal accused in the RG Kar Hospital alleged sexual assault and murder case -- which was seized by Kolkata Police before being handed over to the CBI, was registered in the name of the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata. Some individuals on social media are attempting to create confusion around this. To clarify, all government vehicles belonging to Kolkata Police are officially registered under the Commissioner of Police before being assigned to various units," the police said in a statement on Tuesday.

Roy was arrested by the Kolkata Police on August 10, a day after the body of the 31-year-old medic was found in the Seminar hall of the medical college. A CCTV footage and a Bluetooth device found near the medic's body resulted in the arrest of Roy, who was allegedly seen entering the seminar hall of the college where the body was found at around 4 am.

Roy (33) was working with the Kolkata Police as a civic volunteer since 2019.

The accused, who is a trained boxer, allegedly got close to a few senior police officers over the years, following which he was moved to the Kolkata Police Welfare Board and posted at the police outpost at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

He has denied the allegations against him.

The CBI earlier told the Supreme Court that the crime scene was altered by the time it took over the probe which suggests there was an attempt by the local police to cover up the rape and killing of the post-graduate medic.

The medic's body with severe injury marks was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital's chest department in the morning of August 9.

The incident has sparked widespread protests.