Kolkata, Jan 27: Two parallel and crucial hearings are scheduled at a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Monday, on similar pleas filed by two different parties challenging the order by the special court in Kolkata last week sentencing civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, the sole convict in the rape and murder of a woman doctor of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

Incidentally, both the parties challenging the plea have demanded the death sentence for Roy.

On the one hand, the division bench of Justice Debangshu Basak and Justice Shabbar Rashidi will hear the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plea challenging the special court order and seeking a death sentence for Roy. On the other hand, the same division bench will hear a similar plea by the West Bengal government also seeking capital punishment for Roy.

The second case is interesting in the sense that while CBI had itself moved the Calcutta High with the plea for a death sentence for Roy, it opposed the state government’s authority for filing such a similar plea.

The CBI questioned the grounds on which the state government could make such an appeal.

According to the counsel for the central agency, only the CBI, which is investigating the case, and the victim’s parents can move such a plea to a higher court, not the state government, as it is not a party to the case.

The hearing in the first case is expected to start after 10.30 a.m. on Monday.

To recall, the doctor was found dead on the hospital premises in August 2024. After the body of the victim was recovered from a seminar hall within the R.G. Kar premises on the morning of August 9 last year, the initial investigation was carried out by the Kolkata Police, whose sleuths also arrested Roy. However, after five days of initial investigation by the city police, the charge of the probe was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has described the special court order as a failure on the part of the CBI in ensuring the death sentence for the convict. According to her, had the charge of the investigation been with the Kolkata Police, a death sentence would have been ensured for Roy much before as was done in three other cases of rape & murder in the state.

Amritsar, Jan 27: Members of Dalit bodies have given a call for Amritsar shutdown on Monday to protest the vandalising of the iconic statue of B.R. Ambedkar on Heritage Street near the Golden Temple complex on the evening of Republic Day.

They have demanded strict action against the accused, who was arrested by the police.

According to the police, the accused, Akashdeep Singh, belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. The accused used a hammer to deface the statue and burnt the stone-carved Constitution book in front of the statue by lighting inflammable material on it. He used a ladder to reach the statue’s top.

The police said the motive behind the incident is yet to be ascertained. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said a first information report (FIR) has been registered and the accused was arrested.

Further investigation is underway.

Appealing people to maintain calm, Shiromani Akal Dal Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the attempt to vandalise the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar at Heritage Street in Amritsar is deplorable and part of a conspiracy to divide “our society and cause disturbance in Punjab. Such acts should be dealt with sternly. I appeal to Punjabis to maintain calm”.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and Akali leader Sukhbir Badal said, “This heinous act has hurt the sentiments of millions. I demand stern action against the culprit and a thorough inquiry to unravel the conspiracy behind this shameful incident. Let’s stand united against such vile attempts to create divisions in our society.”

Responding to the incident, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said, “This act is an attack on the values of our Constitution and equality. The accused has been arrested, and the Punjab government will ensure strict action against him.”

Local Member of Parliament and Congress leader Gurjeet Singh Aujla urged the government and the administration to take swift action against the miscreants. “His (Ambedkar’s) legacy is the foundation of our democracy and it is our duty to protect and honour it.”

BJP national General Secretary Tarun Chugh blamed the AAP government in the state for deteriorating law and order. “Punjab AAP’s Bhagwant Mann government is in deep sleep. Punjab’s law and order has deteriorated. The CM is busy with tourism while BR Ambedkar’s statue is tampered with and the Constitution is insulted. That too outside the police station,” he told the media.

Chandigarh, Jan 25: An associate of Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gang has been arrested in connection with the firing incident in Dera Bassi in Punjab, police said on Saturday.

The accused has been identified as Mehfuj, alias Vishal Khan, a resident of Dera Bassi.

Police teams have also recovered one .32 calibre pistol along with five cartridges from his possession.

In a post on social media platform X, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said: “In a major breakthrough, Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) in a joint operation with Mohali Police has apprehended an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gang.”

DGP Yadav said the accused, along with another member of Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gang identified as Manjeet, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, were the masterminds behind the firing incident in Dera Bassi.

As per the information, on September 19, 2024, two motorcycle-borne youths in broad daylight opened fire outside the immigration centre in Dera Bassi to demand extortion from the owner.

Sharing operational details, Additional Director General of Police with the AGTF Promod Ban said information based on human intelligence was received about possible hideouts and locations of accused Vishal Khan.

Acting swiftly, special teams of AGTF under the supervision of AIG Gurmeet Chauhan in coordination with Senior Superintendent of Police (Mohali) Deepak Pareek were formed, said the ADGP, adding the teams zeroed in on the possible hideouts and locations and arrested him from Punjab-Haryana border near Barwala and also recovered a pistol from his possession.

Assistant Inspector General Gurmeet Chauhan said the accused has a criminal history and ever since 2023, he has been working on the directions of foreign-based terrorist Goldy Brar.

The arrested accused has also collected a weapons consignment from the notorious gangster Joginder, alias Joga, of Haryana, who had provided weapons and logistical assistance to the accused involved in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case and later, was also arrested, he added.