Kolkata/New Delhi, 24 January 2025: Days after a Sealdah trial court sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment until the end of his natural life, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed an appeal before the Calcutta High Court, seeking the death penalty for the convict in the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case, arguing that the punishment was inadequate given the heinous nature of the crime.
A division bench, led by Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Md Shabbar Rashidi, has scheduled the hearing for January 27.
The court will hear the CBI’s appeal alongside a petition from the West Bengal government, which also seeks capital punishment for Roy.
West Bengal Advocate General Kishore Dutta aligned with the CBI’s stance, stating in court that the life sentence was insufficient and capital punishment was necessary. “Considering the brutality of the crime, a harsher punishment is justified,” Dutta stated during the proceedings.
The case involves the rape and murder of a doctor on August 9, 2024, that sparked outrage across the state.
The CBI, which investigated the case, opposed the state government’s separate appeal, asserting that it, as the prosecuting agency, had the primary right to seek stricter punishment.
The division bench noted that it would consider arguments from all parties, including the victim’s family and the convict’s legal representation, before deciding on the admission of the appeals.