The court sentenced Sanjay Roy, a former civil volunteer, to life imprisonment for raping and murdering a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The sentence, handed down by Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das, has sparked disappointment as many expected a death sentence for the gruesome crime that shocked the nation. The judge’s decision to spare Roy’s life was based on the argument that the case did not qualify as “rarest of the rare,” a legal standard used to justify capital punishment.
The Court’s Ruling
On Monday, Judge Anirban Das sentenced Roy to life imprisonment until death, following his conviction for the brutal attack on the postgraduate trainee doctor on August 9, 2024. The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on Roy and directed the state government to provide ₹17 lakh in compensation to the victim’s family. While the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had demanded the death penalty, the judge determined that the crime did not meet the criteria for such a severe punishment.
Advocate Rehman, who spoke to the media, clarified the judge’s reasoning behind the decision.He explained that the court did not deem the crime to fall under the “rarest of the rare” category, which is why it did not award capital punishment. The judge emphasized that while the crime was horrific, it did not meet the exceptional circumstances required for a death sentence.
Victim’s Family Reacts
The parents of the victim, particularly her mother, expressed shock and dissatisfaction with the verdict. They argued that the rape and murder of an on-duty doctor, in a hospital where she was serving the public, should have been classified as one of the “rarest of the rare” cases. “We are shocked. How can this not be the rarest of the rare cases?”The rapist and murderer attacked an on-duty doctor while she was performing her duties. We are dismayed,” the victim’s mother said. She further suggested that there might have been a larger conspiracy behind the crime.
The victim’s parents, still reeling from the loss of their daughter, have vowed to continue seeking justice. They expressed their disbelief that the brutal nature of the crime did not warrant a death sentence.
Roy’s Denial of Guilt
In a statement to the court, Sanjay Roy continued to deny the charges, claiming that someone had framed him for the crime. “They are framing me, and I have not committed any crime. “I have not done anything, yet they have held me guilty,” he told the court. Despite his claims, the evidence presented during the trial led to his conviction.
What’s Next for the Case?
While the CBI had called for capital punishment, the judge’s ruling means that Roy will serve life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The state government aims to offer some financial support to the victim’s family through compensation, though the emotional pain and sense of injustice will remain.
As the legal proceedings continue, the family of the victim and the public await further developments. The case has brought into focus the legal criteria for death sentences and has sparked a broader debate on the effectiveness of the “rarest of the rare” standard in Indian law.
