The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an appeal before the Calcutta High Court on Friday, seeking the death penalty for Sanjay Roy, the convict in the RG Kar hospital rape-murder case.

A division bench, led by Justice Debangsu Basak, scheduled the hearing for January 27, when it will also consider a request from the West Bengal government for the admission of its own appeal with a similar plea.

The CBI's appeal, presented by Deputy Solicitor General Rajdeep Majumdar, challenges the life sentence given to Roy by a trial court, claiming that the sentence was inadequate. The CBI, having investigated the case, asserts its right to contest the lower court's decision before the High Court.

Roy had been sentenced by the Sealdah court on January 20 to life imprisonment until death for the rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024.

The division bench had previously announced on Wednesday that it would hear from the CBI, the victim's family, and the convict's legal representatives before deciding on the admission of the state government’s appeal.

The CBI contested the state's right to file an appeal, arguing that as the prosecuting agency, it was entitled to challenge the sentence on grounds of its inadequacy. In support of capital punishment for Roy, the state’s Advocate General, Kishore Dutta, argued that the life sentence was insufficient.