A Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) report has raised concerns about potential DNA contamination during the investigation of the rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital last year. The report, submitted to a local court, identified traces of female DNA in a “very poor percentage,” alongside the DNA of the convict, Sanjay Roy.
This finding has led to speculation about whether another woman was involved in the crime or if contamination occurred during the autopsy process. The CFSL report noted that a 100% DNA match of Roy’s profile was found on the nipple swab collected from the victim, along with the victim’s own DNA. However, traces of female DNA from a third party were also detected, albeit in minuscule quantities.
The court, which sentenced Roy—a 35-year-old former civic police volunteer—to life imprisonment on Monday, highlighted the lack of proper autopsy protocols at the post-mortem facility. It noted that the facility’s inadequate infrastructure may have contributed to contamination.
Allegations of Foul Play
The victim’s family and some members of the medical community have alleged that Roy was not the sole perpetrator of the crime. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the probe, suggested that the female DNA traces could be due to contamination. This theory was supported by a CFSL scientist.
The complainant’s counsel, however, argued that the contamination might have been intentional to obscure the involvement of other individuals. The court was informed that additional female chromosomes were found in samples collected during the autopsy, including the anal swab, nipple swab, and vulvar mop. The counsel claimed that another woman’s role in the crime was deliberately concealed and called for a re-investigation.
Lapses in Autopsy Protocols
The court found significant lapses in the handling of the victim’s post-mortem. The autopsy video revealed that other female bodies were present in the autopsy room, and the tray used for the victim’s post-mortem was not sterilized. Moreover, the assistant conducting the autopsy failed to change gloves or aprons before collecting samples. Tools such as knives and scissors were also not sterilized.
The court criticized the lack of infrastructure at the facility, noting that doctors were compelled to perform their duties under substandard conditions. "The doctors had no choice but to work with the poor infrastructure available," the court stated, emphasizing that the responsibility for these lapses should not be placed solely on the medical team.
Convict’s Defense Dismissed
Roy denied involvement in the crime, alleging that police planted his DNA on the victim’s body. The court rejected this defense, stating that the evidence, including the full DNA profile on the nipple swab, clearly indicated his contact with the victim. It also dismissed the possibility of DNA implantation, as the victim’s body was cremated before Roy’s arrest.
While sentencing Roy to life imprisonment, the court ruled that the crime did not meet the “rarest of rare” threshold to warrant the death penalty. The judgment underscored the need for systemic improvements in forensic and investigative procedures to ensure the integrity of evidence in such cases.
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