Calcutta HC to Review CBI, Bengal Gov Pledges Today

Synopsis

On January 27, the Calcutta High Court will hold two significant hearings regarding the CBI and West Bengal government appeals for the death sentence of civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, convicted of the rape and murder of a doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College.

Key Takeaways

Calcutta HC hearings on Sanjay Roy's case.
CBI and West Bengal both seek death penalty.
State government's right to appeal questioned.
Initial investigation by Kolkata Police.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticizes CBI's failure.

Kolkata, Jan 27 (NationPress) Two significant hearings are set to take place at a division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Monday, pertaining to similar petitions submitted by different entities contesting the recent ruling from a special court in Kolkata that sentenced civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, the lone convict in the heinous rape and murder of a female doctor from the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Notably, both parties challenging the ruling are advocating for the death penalty for Roy.

The division bench, consisting of Justice Debangshu Basak and Justice Shabbar Rashidi, will first deliberate on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appeal that disputes the special court's decision and seeks a capital punishment for Roy. Concurrently, the bench will also review a comparable request from the West Bengal government, which is also pursuing the death penalty for Roy.

The second case adds an intriguing twist, as the CBI, which initially petitioned the Calcutta High Court for a death sentence for Roy, is now contesting the state's right to file a similar request.

The CBI has raised questions regarding the basis upon which the state government could submit such an appeal.

According to the representatives of the central agency, only the CBI, which is conducting the investigation, along with the victim's parents, have the standing to bring such a plea before a higher court, while the state government does not hold that status as it is not a party to the case.

The first hearing is anticipated to commence after 10:30 a.m. on Monday.

To recall, the doctor was discovered deceased on hospital grounds in August 2024. After the victim's body was retrieved from a seminar hall located within the R.G. Kar premises on the morning of August 9 last year, the initial investigation was undertaken by the Kolkata Police, who subsequently arrested Roy. However, following five days of preliminary investigation by the city police, the responsibility for the probe was transferred to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has characterized the special court's ruling as a failure on the part of the CBI to secure the death penalty for the convict. She asserted that had the Kolkata Police maintained the investigation, a death sentence for Roy would have been achieved much earlier, as was accomplished in three other rape and murder cases in the state.