RG Kar Case: Bengal Government's Plea Rejected, CBI’s Appeal Accepted by High Court

RG Kar Case: In the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case, the Kolkata High Court has rejected the West Bengal government's petition seeking to upgrade the life sentence of the convict, Sanjay Roy, to the death penalty. However, the court has accepted the appeal filed by the CBI, which challenges the life imprisonment verdict given by the lower court.

Bengal Government and CBI Demand Death Penalty

The lower court had sentenced the accused to life imprisonment, but West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict.
The state government filed a petition in the High Court, demanding the death penalty for the accused.
The CBI also filed an appeal, requesting the death sentence, which the High Court has now agreed to hear.

Why Did the Court Reject the Death Penalty Plea?

The Sealdah Court had ruled that the crime does not fall under the "rarest of rare" category, which is required for awarding the death penalty.
The Kolkata High Court had earlier handed over the case to the CBI for further investigation.
The CBI arrested former RG Kar Medical College Principal Sandeep Ghosh and Tala Police Station officer Abhijit Mandal for allegedly destroying evidence, but they were later released on bail due to delayed charge sheet filing.

Supreme Court Hearing on March 17

The victim’s parents had urged for an urgent hearing in the Supreme Court, but the court declined immediate action. The case is now scheduled for hearing on March 17. The victim’s family continues to demand the death penalty for the accused.

What Happened in the RG Kar Medical College Case?

On August 9, a trainee female doctor’s body was found inside RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata.
She had suffered severe injuries, and the investigation confirmed that she had been raped and murdered.
The next day, Kolkata Police arrested a suspect, triggering nationwide protests demanding justice.

Ongoing Protests and Demand for Justice

The brutal crime sparked outrage across India, with activists and citizens demanding stricter punishment for the accused. The court’s final decision on whether to upgrade the punishment to the death penalty remains highly anticipated.