NEW DELHI: A Calcutta court convicted Sanjay Roy to life sentence to death for the rape and murder of a doctor on duty at the RG Kar Hospital and Medical College, rejecting the prosecution’s request for the death penalty. The court held that the case does not meet the “rarest of the rare” criteria necessary for capital punishment.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das of the Sealdah court stated: “In the realm of modern justice, we must overcome the primitive instinct of ‘an eye for an eye’ or ‘a life for a life.’ Our duty is not to equate brutality with brutality, but to uplift humanity through wisdom, compassion and a deeper understanding of justice.”
The judge emphasized that a civilized society is measured by its ability to reform, rehabilitate and heal rather than exact revenge.
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He noted that the Supreme Court has always stressed that the death penalty should be reserved for cases where the collective conscience of the community is deeply shocked.
“Given these considerations, it would be inappropriate to grant the prosecution’s request to apply the death penalty,” the ruling states.
The court recognized the pain and suffering of the victim’s family and noted that no sentence could truly alleviate their loss. However, he highlighted the importance of a sentence that is proportionate and in line with established legal principles.
Roy was sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000 each for two charges (rape and murder) and the sentences would run concurrently. He was also sentenced to life in prison for causing injuries during the act of rape that led to the victim’s death.
The ruling highlighted forensic evidence as a cornerstone of the prosecution’s case. “The convergence of forensic findings, physical evidence of sexual assault, and DNA matches from multiple samples construct a compelling scientific narrative that confirms the presence of the accused at the crime scene and directly links him to the violent acts,” noted the court.
He further observed: “The crime was particularly heinous, marked by the brutality and vulnerability of the victim. The act of manual strangulation coupled with asphyxiation indicates a prolonged and deliberate infliction of suffering, aggravated by sexual assault, reflecting a complete disregard for human dignity and life.”
The victim’s parents, along with sections of the medical community and civil society organizations, expressed discontent with the verdict and announced plans to appeal to a higher court.