- By Aashish Vashistha
- Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Supreme Court is set to hear today (January 22) a suo motu plea regarding the rape and murder of a trainee female doctor at Kolkata's state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last year. This follows the January 20 ruling by the Sealdah court, which sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment for the crime that sent shockwaves across the nation. However, the verdict has sparked widespread calls across the state for the convict to be sentenced to death.
A top court bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan will resume hearing the suo moto case today. The apex court will also consider a new intervention petition submitted by the victim's parents, who claim there were flaws in the investigation and are seeking further inquiry into the case.
No Death Penalty For Sanjay Roy
The Sealdah court on January 20 sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment until death after finding him guilty of raping and murdering an on-duty trainee female doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The court rejected requests for the death penalty, stating that the crime did not meet the criteria of being a "rarest of the rare" case.
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The local court also directed Roy to pay a fine of Rs 50,000 and asked the state government to pay compensation of Rs 17 lakh to the family of the deceased doctor.
“I think this is not a case of rarest of the rare. That’s why I am giving you imprisonment till your death," the judge said while announcing the quantum of punishment for Roy.
West Bengal Govt Moves Calcutta HC
Meanwhile, the West Bengal government on Tuesday filed an appeal in the Calcutta High Court, challenging the verdict of a Kolkata special court that had sentenced Roy, the sole accused and convict, to life imprisonment in the rape and murder case of a woman doctor. A division bench comprising Justices Debangshu Basak and Shabbar Rashidi admitted the state's appeal, which seeks the imposition of the death penalty for Roy.
“I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare cases which demands capital punishment. We want to insist upon the death penalty in this most sinister and sensitive case," Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said in a statement.
The 31-year-old female trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata was raped and murdered while on duty. Her semi-naked body was found on the third floor of the seminar hall.
The following day, the police arrested Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, in connection with the crime. Subsequently, the CBI took charge of the investigation and filed a charge sheet in the case, which ultimately led to Roy's conviction.
