Kolkata, 20 January
The Sealdah Court has sentenced Sanjay Roy, convicted in the case of rape and murder of a trainee female doctor in the government RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, to life imprisonment till natural death. The CBI, however, sought the death penalty for Roy. The court directed the provincial government to pay Rs 17 lakh as compensation to the victim’s family. Judge Anirban Das said that this crime does not fall under the category of ‘rare among the rare’ which is one of the reasons for not awarding the death penalty to the accused. On the other hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that she is not ‘santashut’ from the life sentence awarded to the accused. He claimed that the ‘forced’ investigation was taken away from the state police and if the investigation was in their hands, they would have ensured the death penalty for the accused. Meanwhile, after Sanjay Roy was sentenced to life imprisonment, his mother locked herself in the house and refused to meet the journalists for comment on this decision.
Roy was expected to face a minimum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty on the charges against him. Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban’s Sealdah Court pronounced Roy guilty in the case of rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in the verdict delivered on Saturday. Just before the sentencing today, Unj Roy had said in his defense that he is innocent and has been implicated in this case. Roy had said, “I am innocent. I have been framed and I have committed no crime. I have done nothing and despite this I have been declared guilty.” Roy was brought to the court at around 10:30 this morning under strict security guard of police vehicles.
Around 500 police personnel are stationed outside the Sealdah Court fortifying to prevent any untoward incident. Despite the hostility of the police personnel, a large number of people reached the court complex.
Meanwhile, the parents of the victim female doctor said this morning that they have full confidence in the judiciary. The victim’s mother lamented the investigation by the CBI and claimed that “other conspirators involved in this crime were not brought to justice.” The grieving mother said, “Only one person was involved in this crime. was not involved, but despite this, the CBI failed to nab others. Such criminals have no right to live if we are to prevent such crimes in future.” Rai, a former civic volunteer of the Kolkata Police, was arrested the day after the incident on August 9 last year. The case was later handed over to the CBI. The judge convicted Roy under Sections 64, 66 and 103(1) of the Indian Penal Code.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police has refused to give permission to the Junior Doctors’ Association for a protest demonstration in the Sealdah Court area. On the other hand, Sanjay Roy’s mother did not speak to the media, but his sister said, “All the evidence is against him. If he gets the death sentence, what can we do about it?” On the other hand, CPI(M) leader Vikas Ranjan Bhattacharya claimed that the CBI is not investigating properly. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said, “We all know that all the evidence was destroyed before the CBI took over the investigation.” In such a situation it becomes very difficult to gather evidence.” -News-Patiala
