Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, criticised the judgment given by the court. She stated that the state would file an appeal in the High Court seeking capital punishment for Roy just like the CBI had initially demanded.

Sanjay Roy was sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50,000 for raping and murdering a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal, in a highly shocking case in August last year. The court further asked the state to compensate the family of the victim with a sum of Rs 17 lakh. The victim's family declined to accept this compensation. 

Mamata Banerjee said, “I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare cases which demands capital punishment. How could the judgment come to the conclusion that it is not a rarest of rare cases?! We want and insist upon the death penalty in this most sinister and sensitive case," 

She pointed out recent cases where the death penalty was granted for similar crimes in the last 3-4 months and questioned the exception of this case.

“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.

According to Judge Anirban Das, who pronounced the judgment, the judiciary must remain neutral and make decisions based on facts rather than public opinion. He said in his judgment that the crime was severe but not at the level where the death penalty could be considered. He also added that the judiciary must remain impartial and fair in its delivery of justice, not by being influenced by public opinion.

“Our duty is not to match brutality with brutality but to elevate humanity through wisdom, compassion, and a deeper understanding of justice," Das added, reminding that the court's responsibility is to maintain a balanced perspective.

The judgment was criticised by various political leaders. BJP IT Cell In-Charge Amit Malviya termed the judgment as a "travesty of justice," alleging that the West Bengal government had weakened the case by destroying evidence. “The verdict must be appealed. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee must stop shielding the criminal," Malviya said, calling for a deeper investigation into the actions of the Kolkata Commissioner and the Chief Minister.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat expressed her disappointment and said that this judgment was almost similar to the one recently passed in Kerala where a woman was given the death sentence for poisoning her boyfriend. She questioned the standards being applied in cases of violence against women, especially those involving rape and murder.