Not satisfied: Mamata on life term for R.G. Kar case suspect

Expressing "dissatisfaction" over a Kolkata court awarding life imprisonment to the prime suspect in the R.G. Kar hospital case, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed the probe was "forcibly" taken away from the Kolkata Police, asserting that had it been with them, they would have ensured a death penalty.

Speaking to reporters in Murshidabad district, Banerjee also criticised the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its probe into the sexual assault and murder of an on-duty medic at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital.

“From day one, all of us had demanded the death sentence, but the court has awarded a life term until death. We still stick to our demand. I can share my party's opinion; the case was forcibly taken from us. Had it been with the (Kolkata) police, we would have ensured that he received the death sentence," the CM said.

"We don’t know how the probe was conducted. In many similar cases that were probed by the state (West Bengal) police, the death penalty was ensured. I am not satisfied... Had it been the death penalty, at least my heart would have been somewhat at peace," she said.

The Sealdah court, presided over by additional district and sessions judge Anirban Das, on Monday sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment, after convicting him for the sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at R.G. Kar on 9 August 2024.

The ghastly crime led to unprecedented and prolonged nationwide protests.

Justice Das ruled that the crime did not meet the criteria for the 'rarest of the rare' category, which would have warranted the death penalty.

The chief minister emphasised the severity of the case, stating, "Had the verdict been a death sentence, it would have provided some comfort to our hearts." The crime warranted the "most severe punishment”, Banerjee asserted.

"In the three cases we handled — Jaynagar, Farakka, and Gurap (all cases of rape and murder) — our police successfully secured death sentences (through proper investigation and filing of chargesheet)," she pointed out, referring to similar cases investigated by local authorities.

"The (R.G. Kar) case was forcibly taken away from us, and I don’t know how the CBI fought the case or what arguments they made. It was all managed by the CBI. We want the most severe punishment for such criminals," Banerjee added.