Court refuses narco test request after Sanjay Roy says 'no'

Sanjay Roy, the prime accused in the rape and murder of Abhaya, refused to give his consent for a narco-analysis test on Friday. His refusal led the Sealdah court to reject the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) request to conduct the procedure.

The CBI had sought permission for the narco test as part of their investigation into the alleged crime, believing it could help verify the accuracy of Roy’s statements. According to reports, Roy have been giving contradictory statements to the central probe agency.

Narco analysis involves administering sodium pentothal to place the subject in a hypnotic state, suppressing their imagination and potentially eliciting more truthful responses. According to an officer involved in the case, the test could have helped determine whether Roy was telling the truth about his role in the crime. However, the procedure cannot be conducted without the accused’s consent, as per a 2010 Supreme Court ruling.

The CBI had already conducted a polygraph test on Roy at the Presidency Correctional Home, but investigators hoped that the narco analysis would provide more concrete information. Roy, who was arrested shortly after the alleged crime in August, continues to deny any involvement, claiming that he is being framed.