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The Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) request to conduct a narco-analysis test on Sanjay Roy, the prime suspect in the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, was denied by a Kolkata court on Friday. Roy, who was arrested on August 10th in connection with the death of the 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor, refused to consent to the test, leading to the court's decision.
The court's decision aligns with a 2010 ruling by the Supreme Court of India, which mandates that narco-analysis tests cannot be conducted without the voluntary consent of the accused. While these tests hold legal validity, the courts only grant limited admissibility to their results, taking into account the circumstances surrounding their execution.
The CBI had argued that the narco-analysis test was crucial to verifying Roy's version of events. A CBI officer stated that the test was intended to 'cross-check whether Roy is telling the truth'. The central agency had already conducted polygraph tests on Roy and several other individuals involved in the case. The polygraph test, unlike the narco-analysis test, does not require consent from the subject. However, its results are generally considered less reliable and are subject to a higher level of scrutiny.
During a narco-analysis test, sodium pentothal, also known as 'truth serum', is administered to the subject, placing them in a hypnotic state. It is believed that in this state, the subject is more susceptible to revealing truthful information. However, the scientific validity of the narco-analysis test has been questioned, and its use as evidence in court proceedings is often debated.
The doctor's body was found on the hospital premises on August 10th, leading to the arrest of Roy by Kolkata Police the following day. The Calcutta High Court subsequently transferred the case to the CBI on August 23rd. The CBI has been actively investigating the case, conducting interviews with hospital authorities and reviewing departments relevant to the case. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the truth surrounding the tragic incident and bring justice to the victim and her family.
Source: Kolkata rape-murder case: CBI denied narco test request as Sanjay Roy refuses consent