The Sealdah session court rejected demand for the death penalty for the convicted rapist and murderer in the RG Kar case, stating that the crime did not meet the ‘rarest of rare’ nature threshold.
Not ‘an eye for an eye’… but a stark reminder that ‘the measure of a civilised society lies not in its ability to exact revenge, but in its capacity to reform, rehabilitate and ultimately to heal.’ This is what the court said while rejecting the plea for death penalty for the convict in RG Kar case. In the middle of the cacophony of outrage, political crossfire, blame game and chaos that unfolded in Bengal since August, 2024, the state’s chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, and her politics stand vindicated.
With these observations, the Sealdah session court rejected demand for the death penalty for the convicted rapist and murderer in the RG Kar case, stating that the crime did not meet the ‘rarest of rare’ nature threshold, as described by the Indian criminal-justice system. This, despite the brutal assault on the junior doctor – violated while resting on duty in a government hospital – by none other than a personnel, who was employed with the Kolkata Police.
The court’s verdict sentencing Roy to life imprisonment for the gruesome rape and murder of the young doctor inside the state run hospital has bolstered Mamata Banerjee’s government’s image of leading an ‘accurate’ investigation.
Following the verdict, Banerjee issued a statement, “In the RG Kar junior doctor’s rape and murder case, I am really shocked to see that the judgement of the Court today finds that it is not a Rarest of Rare case! I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare case which demands capital punishment. How could the judgement come to the conclusion that it is not a rarest of rare case?”
“We want and insist upon the death penalty in this most sinister and sensitive case. Recently, in the last 3/4 months, we have been able to ensure capital/ maximum punishment for convicts in such crimes. Then, why, in this case, has capital punishment not been awarded? I strongly feel that it is a heinous crime that warrants capital punishment. We will plead for capital punishment of the convict at the High Court now,” she added.
Political optics unfolding
Yet, beneath the optics of this political victory lies a disturbing reality — a chaotic handling of the sensitive situation, marred by systemic failures, unanswered questions, and unresolved issues that enabled the tragedy in the first place.
The convict, Sanjay Roy, was not just a pervert and a predator but a civic police volunteer — a role introduced by Mamata Banerjee’s government to bridge manpower gaps in law enforcement.
Instead of being an asset to handle the law and order situations, this unregulated force has now become a liability, operating outside the rigors of police training and accountability.
Bengal has witnessed numerous instances of these volunteers abusing their unchecked authority and political patronage with this case exposing the fatal flaws in their existence. Despite this, the government still remains silent on regulating or dismantling this flawed structure.
Aparajita Bill – Mamata’s masterstroke
Mamata Banerjee’s political instincts, however, were sharp. As her administration battled a deluge of misinformation, fake news, and relentless attacks from the opposition, media and activists, she positioned herself as a leader taking tough decisions.
The instance of passing Aparajita Women and Child Bill by the Bengal legislative assembly, proposing capital punishment (if the victim dies) for the convicted rapists, fastrack investigation and speedy trial, was a calculated move to project political strength, cover up the initial mishandling and shift focus away from the lapses while dealing with this sensitive case.
While politically astute, the bill, however, does a little to address deeper failures, such as the dysfunctional hospital security system, inaccessible CCTV footage, and glaring inconsistencies in the ways of Kolkata Police dealt with the situation which also includes the vandalisation of the hospital on the night of August 14 following the march.
The Chaos, crossfire and the collateral
The chaos surrounding this case highlighted not just the vulnerabilities in West Bengal’s governance but also the lapses in inter-agency coordination. The CBI’s chargesheet diverged minutely in some points from Kolkata Police’s findings, exposing fissures in the pursuit of justice.
Even though the findings of Kolkata Police including the arrest of the culprit, the nature of the crime and his actions remained almost identical in the CBI report, the central agency came under tremendous pressure to do something different from Kolkata Police. The pressure prompted them to arrest an officer, interrogate several senior police officers, verifying all evidence several times presuming that there was mischief.
Yet, in the midst of this disarray, Mamata Banerjee managed to steer the narrative in her favor finally, emerging as a leader who delivered justice, despite the storm of criticism.
However, societal values, people’s trust and expectation became the collateral damage.
Justice not delayed, but isn’t it denied?
Is justice really served when the foundational questions remain unanswered? Why is the civic police force still unregulated, almost a political tool, despite repeated instances of criminal behavior? Why are Bengal’s hospitals—the essential public spaces — left with inadequate security? And why, amid all the chaos, were these issues either ignored or deliberately sidestepped by the government?
Today’s verdict may bring closure to the government, the investigating agencies, but it surely does not bring so much for the victim’s family. It also reflects the systemic rot that Mamata’s government has failed to address.
