A sessions court in Kolkata on Monday sentenced Sanjay Roy, a former civic police volunteer, to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The verdict was delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das, who stated that the case does not meet the “rarest of the rare” criteria required for awarding the death penalty. “It would be inappropriate to accede to the prosecution’s request for the death penalty,” the judge remarked in his 172-page order.

The judgment emphasized the need for a balanced approach in sentencing. “This case calls for a carefully considered and appropriate sentence that balances the gravity of the crime with the principles of justice, rehabilitation, and the preservation of human dignity,” the judge noted, adding that the court must not yield to public pressure or emotional appeals.

Despite the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the victim’s family advocating for capital punishment, the court opted for life imprisonment under Sections 64 (rape), 66 (causing injury resulting in the death of a rape victim), and 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her government would appeal to the Calcutta High Court, seeking the death penalty for Sanjay Roy.