Kolkata, January 20: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed her dissatisfaction over the court's decision to give life imprisonment to the convict in the RG Kar hospital rape-murder case. She asserted that had the case been handled by Kolkata Police, a death penalty would have been ensured.
"I learned about the sentencing through the media. We have always demanded the death penalty and continue to stand by that stance. However, this is the court's decision, and I cannot comment further on it. In three other cases, Kolkata Police ensured capital punishment through thorough investigations that were completed in 54-60 days. This was a serious case, and had it been under our purview, we would have ensured the death penalty long ago," CM Mamata stated during a media briefing in Malda.
She also pointed out the contrast between the swift action taken by the state police in other cases and the CBI's handling of the RG Kar case. "After the CBI took over the case on August 14, 2024, it took them five months to seek the death penalty for the accused. This is in stark contrast to the decisive steps taken by the West Bengal police, which led to the swift delivery of justice in cases such as Joynagar, Farakka, and Hooghly, where the culprits were sentenced to death within 50-60 days," she said.
Mamata Banerjee questioned the role of the CBI in the case and expressed uncertainty over how they had handled the investigation. "The details of their handling are for the CBI to explain. Although we had offered to take over the case if necessary, it was intentionally removed from our jurisdiction. Our main goal was always to secure the harshest possible punishment for the convict, and I am not satisfied with this verdict," she remarked.
The Chief Minister also praised the West Bengal Police for their swift action in apprehending the accused just 24 hours after the crime occurred on August 9, 2024.
