His bike had “police” painted on it. He behaved like one. And neighbours accused him of browbeating them like a cop whenever he got a chance.

Sanjay Roy was “police” to his neighbours in Bhowanipore.

Not the kind of police that a city would want to have.

Sanjay was arrested on Saturday for the alleged rape and murder of a young doctor.

“He would play the mediator and often the judge in the smallest scuffles or exchanges in our neighbourhood. He would say he would take action,” said a woman, the Roys’ next-door neighbour on Sambhunath Pandit Street.

Like most of Sanjay’s neighbours who spoke to The Telegraph on Saturday evening, the woman did not want to be named. Sanjay’s family has connections in the police, they said.

Third among four siblings, Sanjay completed his plus-II from a school in Bhowanipore and joined Kolkata Police as a civic volunteer in 2019.

“I would take him to a boxing club in Bhowanipore when he was in school,” Sanjay’s mother Malati said.

“He did tell me once that he was with the police and showed me a card. He did not spell out clearly what he did for a living. I knew he was with the police,” she said.

Sanjay’s father, who drove a taxi, died several years ago.

On Friday night, when the police took Sanjay to Lalbazar from the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for further questioning, the five-feet-something was in blue jeans and a grey T-shirt.

On Saturday, television pictures beamed him walking with an air of nonchalance, held by two policemen.

One of Sanjay’s sisters is also with the police, a neighbour of theirs said.

“The eldest sister told us she was posted at Lalbazar. When she visited her mother, she would take out her mobile phone and show us pictures of her in police uniform,” said another neighbour.

“Sanjay would also brag about how he got his youngest sister the job of a civic volunteer with the police,” said another neighbour.

A neighbour said he used to make money with the false promise of getting them government jobs.

“Uska niyat-hi kharab tha (His intentions were bad),” said a woman who has seen him for many years.

More than one officer said he did not appear repentant for the crimes he has been accused of.

“Sanjay had grown bigger than his shadow while on duty at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. He seemed more interested in finding beds for those seeking admission against a payment,” said a senior police officer.