Sanjay Roy, who was arrested in connection with the death of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor on August 10, was produced before the Sealdah Court for a closed-door hearing. During the session, the judge personally asked Roy if he had any objections to undergoing the narco test, to which Roy declined.
Under a 2010 ruling by the Supreme Court of India, narco-analysis tests cannot be conducted without the accused’s voluntary consent. While the test holds legal validity, its admissibility in court is limited and depends on the circumstances under which it is conducted.
The CBI had approached the Sealdah Court seeking permission for the test, claiming it would help verify Roy’s version of events. “This is primarily to cross-check whether Roy is telling the truth,” a CBI officer was quoted as saying. The central agency had already conducted polygraph tests on Roy and several others involved in the case.
During a narco test, sodium pentothal is administered to put the subject into a hypnotic state, making it difficult for them to lie. “In most cases, the accused provides truthful information,” the officer explained.
Sanjay Roy was arrested by Kolkata Police on August 11, a day after the doctor’s body was found on the hospital premises. The case was later handed over to the CBI on August 23 following a Calcutta High Court order. As part of its ongoing investigation, a CBI team visited RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Thursday to speak with hospital authorities and review the departments connected to the case.
