The Calcutta High Court will hear two crucial pleas on Monday regarding the sentencing of Sanjay Roy. Roy is the sole convict in the rape and murder of a woman doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata. Both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the West Bengal government have challenged the special court’s decision to sentence Roy to life imprisonment.
The CBI and the state government have separately demanded a death sentence for Roy. A division bench comprising Justice Debangshu Basak and Justice Shabbar Rashidi will hear the petitions.
The CBI has opposed the state government’s involvement in the case. The agency argued that only the CBI or the victim’s parents could file an appeal for a death sentence. The CBI claimed that the state, not being a party to the case, lacked legal grounds to challenge the special court’s verdict.
The CBI’s plea will be heard first, followed by the state government’s petition. Both hearings are scheduled to begin after 10:30 a.m.
Background And Political Reactions
The victim’s body was discovered on the hospital premises on August 9, 2024. Kolkata Police initially investigated the case and arrested Roy. Five days later, the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the CBI.
Last week, the special court sentenced Roy to life imprisonment, sparking backlash. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the CBI, blaming it for failing to secure a death sentence. She claimed that the Kolkata Police would have ensured capital punishment, as they had done in three similar cases.
The High Court’s decision will address both the legal debate and demands for stricter punishment in this high-profile case.
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