Close X
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
ADVT 
India

Bengal govt to move Calcutta HC seeking death penalty for RG Kar convict: Mamata Banerjee

Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Jan, 2025 01:10 PM
  • Bengal govt to move Calcutta HC seeking death penalty for RG Kar convict: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata, Jan 20 (IANS) Hours after a special court here awarded life imprisonment to Sanjay Roy, the sole accused in the rape and murder of a lady doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in August last year, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that West Bengal government will challenge the order in Calcutta High Court soon.

In a statement issued on Monday morning, she had also made it clear that the state government will be seeking the “death penalty” at the Calcutta High Court for the victim.

“I strongly feel that it is a heinous crime that warrants capital punishment. We will plead for capital punishment of the convict at the High Court now,” the statement by the Chief Minister said.

According to her, she is deeply shocked at the judgment of the special court which does not consider the crime as the “rarest of rare crimes.” “I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare cases which demands capital punishment. How could the judgment come to the conclusion that it is not the rarest of rare cases? We want to insist upon the death penalty in this most sinister and sensitive case,” the Chief Minister’s statement read.

“Recently, in the last 3/4 months, we have been able to ensure capital/ maximum punishment for convicts in such crimes. Then, why, in this case, has capital punishment not been awarded?” the Chief Minister’s statement added.

Earlier in the day, immediately after the sentence was pronounced, the Chief Minister expressed her displeasure and dissatisfaction over the quantum of the sentence.

“We demanded the ‘death penalty’ for the convict. I don’t know how…..Had the case been in our hands (read state police or Kolkata Police), the death sentence would have been pronounced much earlier,” the Chief Minister told media persons just after the sentence was pronounced by the special court.

However, when specifically asked whether the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had failed to carry out the investigation properly thus leading to just “life imprisonment” and not “death penalty,” the Chief Minister refused to make any direct comment.

“I do not want to say anything on these lines. All I can say is that recently in the three cases of similar rape and murder which were handled by the state police, the “death penalty’ was pronounced within a much shorter period,” the Chief Minister said.

 

MORE India ARTICLES

Excise case: Cong backs Centre on Kejriwal's prosecution by ED but seeks swift, conclusive probe

Excise case: Cong backs Centre on Kejriwal's prosecution by ED but seeks swift, conclusive probe
As the Enforcement Directorate (ED) got approval from the Union Home Ministry to prosecute AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case related to the liquor policy, the move evoked mixed reactions. While some Congress leaders welcomed it and sought a swift investigation, others called it politically motivated with an eye on Assembly polls.

Excise case: Cong backs Centre on Kejriwal's prosecution by ED but seeks swift, conclusive probe

Enquiry committee recommends legal action against 'individual' for undermining India-US security interests

Enquiry committee recommends legal action against 'individual' for undermining India-US security interests
The committee was set up in November 2023 by the Indian government on receipt of information provided by the US authorities on a "foiled plot" to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani on American soil.

Enquiry committee recommends legal action against 'individual' for undermining India-US security interests

Customs officials seize marijuana valued at Rs 4cr from passenger in Bhubaneswar airport

Customs officials seize marijuana valued at Rs 4cr from passenger in Bhubaneswar airport
As per a statement issued on Wednesday by the Bhubaneswar Customs, the officials, upon receipt of specific intelligence from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, carried out passenger profiling and subsequently intercepted a passenger coming from Bangkok, Thailand on January 14.

Customs officials seize marijuana valued at Rs 4cr from passenger in Bhubaneswar airport

ED Srinagar attaches Delhi property worth Rs 2.25 crore in money laundering case

ED Srinagar attaches Delhi property worth Rs 2.25 crore in money laundering case
The Enforcement Directorate's Srinagar zonal office on Wednesday announced that it has attached property, worth Rs 2.25 crore, in Delhi of a company, accused of fraud, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

ED Srinagar attaches Delhi property worth Rs 2.25 crore in money laundering case

Rajasthan will become the state with highest volume of water under PM Modi's leadership: Minister

Rajasthan will become the state with highest volume of water under PM Modi's leadership: Minister
He highlighted the significant efforts made by both the Central government under Prime Minister Modi and the state government led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to make the state water-sufficient.

Rajasthan will become the state with highest volume of water under PM Modi's leadership: Minister

Excellent initiative: Ex-servicemen laud Armed Forces Veterans Day programme at Akhnoor

Excellent initiative: Ex-servicemen laud Armed Forces Veterans Day programme at Akhnoor
The event, addressed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, brought together Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to honour the contributions of ex-servicemen.

Excellent initiative: Ex-servicemen laud Armed Forces Veterans Day programme at Akhnoor