West Bengal Challenges Life Sentence in RG Kar Rape-Murder Case, Seeks Death Penalty

The state government has moved the Calcutta High Court, arguing the crime qualifies as 'rarest of rare,' while the CBI faces criticism over its investigation.

• The West Bengal government is appealing a trial court's life imprisonment sentence for Sanjay Roy, convicted of raping and murdering a doctor at RG Kar Medical College in August 2024, seeking the death penalty instead.
• The Calcutta High Court has allowed the state to file its appeal, with hearings expected to begin soon, while the CBI argues that only it or the central government can challenge the sentence in this case.
• The trial court ruled that the crime did not meet the 'rarest of rare' standard required for the death penalty, citing principles of reformative justice and insufficient evidence presented by the CBI.
• Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has criticized the judgment and the CBI's investigation, reiterating her support for the death penalty and referencing the state's Aparajita Bill, which seeks harsher penalties for similar crimes.
• The victim's family and political opposition have also raised concerns about mishandling of the initial investigation, with allegations of evidence tampering and delays in securing justice.

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