Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday rejected an appeal filed by the West Bengal government seeking the death penalty for Sanjoy Roy, who was convicted of the rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. However, the court admitted a separate appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which also demanded the death sentence for Roy.
Key Developments:
- State Government’s Appeal Rejected: The two-judge division bench dismissed the West Bengal government’s appeal. The court stated that the crime did not meet the “rarest of rare” criteria necessary to impose the death penalty.
- CBI’s Appeal Admitted: The court, however, accepted the appeal from the CBI, which had conducted the investigation after the case was transferred from the state police. The CBI’s plea demands that Roy be given the death penalty for the brutal crime.
- Trial Court’s Sentencing: On January 20, the Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court in Kolkata found Sanjoy Roy guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The court had ruled that the case did not meet the “rarest of rare” standards required for a death sentence.
Background of the Case:
- Incident: The victim, a 31-year-old trainee doctor, was found dead on August 9 within the premises of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The horrific incident sparked widespread protests, particularly by the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, who demanded action and an end to the “threat culture” in the state’s medical institutions.
- Investigation: Initially investigated by the West Bengal Police, the case was later transferred to the CBI by the High Court. Roy was arrested shortly after the body was discovered and had denied his involvement in the crime, claiming innocence.
- Protests: Following the tragic incident, doctors in West Bengal held a prolonged strike that disrupted healthcare services across the state, demanding better security and accountability within medical facilities.
Ongoing Investigations:
The CBI is also looking into alleged tampering of evidence and corruption related to the case. Notably, individuals involved include Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the hospital, and a former officer-in-charge of the Tala Police Station, among others.
This case remains a high-profile issue, with tensions surrounding the investigation, trial, and the demand for justice for the deceased doctor.
