New Delhi: The Calcutta high court on Monday reserved its decision on whether to admit two separate appeals filed by the West Bengal government and the CBI, challenging a trial court‘s verdict that sentenced Sanjay Roy, the RG Kar hospital rape-murder convict, to life imprisonment without parole.
The division bench, led by Justice Debangsu Basak, heard arguments from both the state and the CBI, who claimed the January 20 judgment by the Sealdah sessions court was inadequate.
Both the CBI and the state government are seeking the death penalty for Roy, the sole convict in the case. The CBI argued that, as the investigation and prosecution agency, it has exclusive rights to challenge the trial court’s sentence on the grounds of inadequacy. Meanwhile, the state government contended that it also has the authority to file an appeal in such cases.
Advocate general Kishore Dutta, representing the West Bengal government, began the day’s proceedings, arguing for the state’s right to appeal.
As per the court’s earlier direction, both the victim’s parents and the convict were represented by their respective lawyers during the hearing.
Roy was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024. The sentence mandates imprisonment for the remainder of his life.
