News Brief
RG Kar Case Update: West Bengal Government Moves Calcutta High Court Seeking Death Penalty For Sanjay Roy After Mamata Banerjee's Remarks
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
A day after Mamata Banerjee expressed 'shock' over Sealdah Court's verdict in the RG Kar rape and murder case, the West Bengal government moved the Calcutta High Court demanding the death penalty for the convict.
Sanjay Roy, a former civic volunteer working with the Kolkata Police was convicted for the rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor and sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday (20 January) by the local court.
Responding to this development, Banerjee posted on X, "I am really shocked to see that the judgment of the Court today finds that it is not a Rarest of Rare case!" and insisted upon the death penalty.
"I strongly feel that it is a heinous crime that warrants capital punishment. We will plead for capital punishment of the convict at the High Court now," she said recalling other cases where capital punishment was ensured.
A matter has been permitted to be filed by a Division Bench under the leadership of Justice Debangshu Basak.
In August 2024, a horrific incident at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata shook the nation when a second-year postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered.
Her semi-clothed body was discovered in the hospital's seminar room on the third floor on 9 August. The prime accused, Sanjay Roy, a former civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was arrested the following day.
The case sparked nationwide outrage and led to prolonged protests by junior doctors in Kolkata, who demanded justice and improved security measures in state-run hospitals.
The gravity of the situation prompted the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance, leading to the establishment of a National Task Force to propose safety protocols for medical professionals across India.
After the Sealdah court's verdict, the victim's parents expressed dissatisfaction. Banerjee's Trinamool Congress also held rallies and dharnas demanding the death penalty for Roy.
