RG Kar rape-murder case: Demanded death sentence for Sanjay Roy, says CM Mamata Banerjee

RG Kar rape-murder case: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she was not satisfied with the Kolkata court's life-term sentence for Sanjay Roy in RG Kar rape-murder case.

“I am not satisfied,” Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said. “All of us had demanded a death sentence, but the court has given a life term until death. The case was forcibly taken from us. Had it been with the (Kolkata) police, we would have ensured that he was served a death sentence,” Mamata Banerjee added.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the court's verdict, she said, “We don’t know how the probe was conducted. In many similar cases that were probed by the state police, the death penalty was ensured. I am not satisfied.” Mamata Banerjee alleged the probe was “forcibly” taken away from the Kolkata Police.

Emphasising that the state government would have ensured a death penalty, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief questioned the CBI investigation in the case.

Trial court's verdict on RG Kar rape-murder case

These remarks come after Kolkata's Sealdah court sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment until death on Monday. The 34-year-old, who was a former civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was convicted of the rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das on Saturday declared Sanjay Roy guilty of the crime under Sections 64 (rape), 66 (punishment for causing death), and 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the Judge, the death penalty was not imposed on the convict since the crime did not fall under the “rarest of the rare” category.

Calling it a heinous crime and seeking capital punishment, Mamata Banerjee in a post on x said, “I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare case which demands capital punishment. How could the judgement come to the conclusion that it is not a rarest of rare case?”

The heinous crime took place on August 9 last year while the doctor was on duty. In addition to life imprisonment, the judge imposed a ₹50,000 fine on Sanjay Roy. In case of non-payment of the fine, an additional five months of imprisonment will be imposed.

State government asked to pay compensation

Furthermore, the court held the state government responsible, “Since the victim died while on duty in the hospital, her place of work." The West Bengal government will need to pay a compensation of ₹17 lakh to the victim's family, per the trial court's order. The state government has to pay “compensation to the family of the doctor – ₹10 lakh for the death and ₹7 lakh for the rape,” the court said.