'Demanding Death Sentence Since Day 1': Mamata 'Dissatisfied' With Court Order In RG Kar Rape-Murder Case

Mamata Banerjee said she was not satisfied with the verdict and said that state government have been demanding death sentence to the convict since the first day.

File photo of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Source : PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday reacted to the Sealdah court awarding life setence to Sanjay Roy, who was convicted of rape and murder of the junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hsopital in Kolkata.

The Bengal CM said she was not satisfied with the verdict and said that state government have been demanding death sentence to the convict. She also criticised the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its probe into the rape-murder of the on-duty medic at the state-run hospital.

"We have been demanding death sentence to the convict since Day 1 and we are still demanding the same... If we had the case in our hands, we would have ordered a death sentence in the case long ago, but it was taken away from us. We want justice. Such criminals should be hanged. I am not satisfied with the court's order," Mamata Banerjee told reporters in Murshidabad.

VIDEO | RG Kar rape and murder case: Here's what West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) said on Sealdah Court sentencing convict Sanjoy Roy to life term till death.

"We have been demanding death sentence to the convict since Day 1 and we are still demanding the… pic.twitter.com/DdJBpJoZ4H

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 20, 2025

The Sealdah court sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment until death after he was convicted of the rape and murder of the on-duty doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024.

She emphasised the severity of the case, stating, "If the verdict had been a death sentence, it would have provided some comfort to our hearts." 

Later in a post on X, Mamata insisted upon the death penalty for the accused saying that the crime was indeed "a rarest of rare case".

"In the R.G. Kar junior doctor's rape and murder case, I am really shocked to see that the judgement of the Court today finds that it is not a Rarest of Rare case! I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare case which demands capital punishment. How could the judgement come to the conclusion that it is not a rarest of rare case?! We want and insist upon death penalty in this most sinister and sensitive case," Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X.

In the R.G. Kar junior doctor's rape and murder case, I am really shocked to see that the judgement of the Court today finds that it is not a Rarest of Rare case!

I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare case which demands capital punishment. How could the judgement…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 20, 2025

"Recently, in 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? 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," she added.

The Sealdah Additional District and Sessions court found Roy guilty of the rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee on August 9 last year and directed the state to pay a compensation of Rs 17 lakh to the family of the deceased doctor.