Kolkata/IBNS, Feb. 7 -- A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday rejected the West Bengal government's plea seeking death penalty for civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a sessions court in connection with the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor in Kolkata's state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The High Court said the state government has no right to file a plea seeking the death penalty.

As per the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chargesheet, Sanjoy was the only man who has been accused of the crime that had sent shockwaves across the country and sparked sweeping protests in Kolkata, its neighbouring districts and some major Indian cities.

Though Sanjoy wa...