Mon Jan 20 16:03:53 IST 2025: ## Kolkata Court Sentences RG Kar Rape-Murder Convict to Life Imprisonment, Sparking Outrage
**Kolkata, January 20, 2025** – The sentencing of Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has ignited widespread outrage in Kolkata. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock and dissatisfaction with the verdict, claiming that the Kolkata Police would have secured the death penalty had the investigation remained under their jurisdiction.
The case, which sparked nationwide protests and a Supreme Court order transferring the investigation to the CBI, involved the brutal murder of a 34-year-old doctor on August 9th. Today’s judgment found the prosecution failed to prove the crime fell under the “rarest of rare” category necessary for the death penalty. The court awarded the victim’s elderly parents Rs 17 lakh in compensation, a gesture they rejected, prioritizing justice over financial aid.
Chief Minister Banerjee stated that her government would appeal the life sentence, seeking the death penalty in the High Court. She asserted that the Kolkata Police had a proven track record of securing death sentences in similar cases within 60 days and blamed the CBI takeover for the perceived lenient sentence. She maintained her belief that the crime warranted capital punishment.
Despite the conviction, suspicion remains, with the victim’s parents and protesting doctors alleging a cover-up and suggesting Roy may not have acted alone. These claims, vehemently denied by Chief Minister Banerjee, center on allegations of involvement by individuals connected to the ruling Trinamool Congress party. The Chief Minister previously led protests demanding justice for the victim. The controversy continues, highlighting lingering questions regarding the investigation and the pursuit of justice for the deceased doctor.
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