Is Sanjay Ray, RG Kar rape and murder case convict, in deeper trouble over prison misconduct?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sanjay Ray continues to exhibit troubling behavior in prison.
- His actions may indicate deeper psychological issues.
- The prison authorities are considering punitive measures against him.
- The victim's family remains active in seeking justice.
- The CBI investigation is ongoing, highlighting potential broader implications.
Kolkata, July 7 (NationPress): Civic volunteer Sanjay Ray, the only convict in the horrific RG Kar rape and murder case from August last year, appears to be facing escalating issues due to ongoing complaints regarding his persistent misbehavior and refusal to comply with prison regulations.
Roy received a life sentence from a trial court last year and has since been incarcerated at Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata.
"It has been nearly seven months since he was incarcerated, and he has yet to display any signs of remorse. Rather, his misconduct towards other inmates and prison staff, along with his defiance of correctional home orders, is intensifying. If this behavior persists, we might have no choice but to impose penalties on him according to prison guidelines," stated an official from the correctional facility, wishing to remain anonymous.
The official mentioned that Roy initially took on the role of maintaining the garden within the prison grounds. According to regulations, new inmates must first work as apprentices before gaining permanent employment status.
"At first, he adhered to the rules. However, he later began violating them, first misbehaving with fellow inmates and subsequently with prison staff and officers," the official added.
The consequences for persistent misbehavior and defiance could include restrictions on his access to the funds he earns from daily work within the correctional facility. "His earnings will be accrued, but he will not be allowed to withdraw or utilize that money," the official explained.
ADG & IG of Correctional Services, L.N. Meena, was unavailable for comment on the matter, as calls and messages went unanswered.
Sanjay Roy's lawyer, senior advocate Kaushik Gupta, informed IANS that he was unaware of these developments. "I cannot comment on his behavior inside the correctional home as I am only representing him in his acquittal petition at the Calcutta High Court," he said.
Rajneeta Saha Mukhopadhyay, a consultant psychologist and graphologist, suggested that Roy's behavior might stem from various factors, including a denial of guilt, as he continues to assert his innocence despite his conviction and life sentence.
"This could lead to frustration and anger towards the authorities and fellow inmates. By behaving inappropriately and refusing to participate in manual labor, Roy may be attempting to assert his innocence or protest the court's ruling. Alternatively, it may indicate a lack of remorse, consistent with his earlier statement, 'Hang me if you want,' after his arrest," Mukhopadhyay commented.
She elaborated that psychologically, Roy's actions could relate to cognitive dissonance, the discomfort stemming from holding two conflicting beliefs—claiming innocence while being convicted and sentenced.
"Another factor is defensiveness, where he employs a coping mechanism to handle the stress and guilt of his actions. This behavior may also indicate antisocial personality traits. His lack of remorse and disregard for the feelings and rights of others could signal such traits," Mukhopadhyay noted.
In the meantime, the victim's parents have organized a 'Nabanna Abhijan' (march to the state secretariat) on August 9, demanding justice for their daughter on the anniversary of her death.
The victim's body was discovered in a seminar hall on the hospital premises on the morning of August 9. Although Roy has been sentenced to life imprisonment, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has yet to conclude its investigation into the broader conspiracy surrounding the crime.