Calcutta High Court Commutes Death Sentence in Child Rape-Murder Case of 5 year old to Life Imprisonment

The Calcutta High Court commuted the death sentence of two men convicted of raping and murdering a five-year-old girl, sentencing them to life imprisonment without remission (premature release) for 60 years.

A Division Bench of Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi acknowledged the brutality of the crime but noted the State’s submission that the convicts were uneducated, from disadvantaged backgrounds, and had potential for reform.

Emphasising the need to balance punishment with reformation, the Court modified the 2023 trial court judgment while maintaining the seriousness of the offence. The death reference and appeals were accordingly disposed of. (Fagun Mandi @ Pui & Anr v The State of West Bengal & Anr)