Synopsis
Following a special court's life sentence for the sole accused in a brutal rape and murder case, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announces intentions to appeal for the death penalty at the Calcutta High Court. She expresses discontent with the ruling, emphasizing the heinous nature of the crime.Key Takeaways
- Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee plans to appeal for the death penalty.
- The case involves the rape and murder of a female doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.
- The special court sentenced the sole accused to life imprisonment.
- Banerjee criticizes the court's judgment as not recognizing the case as the rarest of rare.
- The state has previously secured death penalties in similar cases.
Kolkata, Jan 20 (NationPress) Just hours after a special court sentenced Sanjay Roy, the lone perpetrator of the horrific rape and murder of a female doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in August of the previous year, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared that the West Bengal government will appeal this decision in the Calcutta High Court shortly.
In a statement released on Monday morning, she emphasized that the state will pursue the death penalty for the victim in the High Court.
“I firmly believe this is a repugnant crime that justifies capital punishment. We will advocate for the convict's execution at the High Court,” said the Chief Minister.
She expressed her profound shock at the special court's ruling, which failed to categorize the crime as one of the rarest of rare crimes. “I am convinced that this case is indeed among the rarest of rare instances that necessitates capital punishment. How could the court determine that it does not meet this criterion? We aim to press for the death penalty in this exceedingly heinous and sensitive case,” she added.
“In the past three to four months, we have secured capital or maximum punishment for offenders in similar cases. Why was the death penalty not pronounced here?” the Chief Minister questioned.
Earlier in the day, right after the sentence was delivered, she voiced her dissatisfaction regarding the severity of the punishment.
“We sought the death penalty for the convict. I cannot comprehend how… if this case had been under our jurisdiction (referring to the state police or Kolkata Police), a death sentence would have been given much sooner,” she remarked to reporters following the court's ruling.
However, when asked if the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had inadequately handled the investigation, resulting in only “life imprisonment” instead of “death penalty,” the Chief Minister chose not to comment directly.
“I prefer not to comment on this. All I can say is that in three recent cases of similar rape and murder managed by the state police, the death penalty was imposed far more swiftly,” she concluded.