National Desk
24 January
Ludhiana
Journalist Sandeep Dhand
On Friday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an appeal in the Calcutta High Court seeking the death penalty for Sanjay Rai, accused in the brutal rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at the R.G. Car Hospital. Rai had been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Sealdah court on January 20, 2024.
Court to Hear the CBI’s Appeal on January 27
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court, led by Justice Debangsu Basak, has scheduled a hearing for the CBI’s appeal on January 27. The bench will also hear a similar appeal filed by the West Bengal government, which seeks to challenge the trial court’s decision. The CBI’s appeal argues that the sentence given to Rai was invalid and that a more severe punishment is warranted for the crime.
CBI Claims Right to Challenge Sentence
During the hearing, Deputy Solicitor General Rajdeep Majumdar, representing the CBI, emphasized that the agency had the right to challenge the trial court’s sentence. The agency believes that a life sentence is not adequate for the severity of the crime committed by Rai.
State Government’s Appeal for Death Penalty
The West Bengal government, represented by Advocate General Kishore Dutta, has also filed an appeal, requesting that Rai’s sentence be upgraded to the death penalty. Dutta argued that life imprisonment until death was insufficient, given the nature of the crime. The court will hear arguments from the CBI, the victim’s family, and the defense lawyers before deciding on whether to admit the appeal.
The case, which involves the tragic rape and murder of a doctor at Argikar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024, has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for justice for the victim.