Bengal Govt Moves High Court Challenging Trial Court Verdict, Demands Death Penalty for RG Kar Sole Accused

The Bengal government on Tuesday filed an appeal before the Calcutta High Court, challenging the Sealdah Court’s verdict in the RG Kar case. The government is seeking the death penalty for sole accused Sanjay Roy, who was convicted in the rape and murder of a 31 year old, on duty PGT doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

Sanjay Roy was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Trial Court in Kolkata on Monday. The court, however, ruled that the case did not meet the criteria of being the "rarest of rare" to justify the death penalty. In addition to the life sentence, Roy was also fined Rs 50,000.

Advocate General Kishore Dutta moved the division bench of the Calcutta High Court, led by Justice Debangshu Basak, to seek the death penalty for Roy. The court has accepted the appeal, and the matter will be further considered.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose government had faced criticism over its handling of the case, expressed her disappointment with the sentencing. She stated that if the Kolkata Police had managed the case, they would have ensured a death penalty for the convict.

She further stated that in the past 3-4 months, the Bengal government had ensured capital or maximum punishment for convicts in similar crimes, questioning why capital punishment was not awarded in this case. “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 added.

In the aftermath of the gruesome incident of rape and murder, the West Bengal legislative assembly passed the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024 in September. The bill proposes harsher penalties, including the death penalty, for crimes such as rape and sexual abuse. The bill is currently awaiting the president’s approval before it can become law.​