State’s Law Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said on Saturday that the Public Prosecutor (PP) went beyond her jurisdiction in pleading with the judge that the degree of punishment for the convicted be “kept to minimum”.
The prosecution counsel told the court on Friday that the convicts were not directly involved in the commission of the crime and that they be sentenced according to statute.
The minister said that the government had given no instruction to the government counsel in this regard.
“It is the judge who will decide the quantum of punishment and the PP has no jurisdiction in it. Also, there was no instruction from the government in this regard,” the minister said, adding that “the activity on her part is not desirable.”
In an unprecedented move, the Public Prosecutor during her submission had appealed before the judge to give minimum sentence to the three convicted in the infamous Park Street gangrape of a woman.
Ray’s role was questioned minutes after the judge at the Sessions Court, Kolkata, Chiranjib Bhattacharya pronounced a sentence of 10 years for the three convicts. The Special Public Prosecutor did not press for maximum punishment and said that the three convicts were “not directly involved” in the case.
Even after her removal, she stood by her words and maintained that the three convicts were “not directly involved”.
“I need not consult anyone as far as my case is concerned. I am associated with the case right from the first day. The prime accused, Kader Khan and Md. Ali are still at large. The three behind bars were not directly involved. The crime was committed by one, Kader Khan. The three convicted did not sexually assault the victim. Hence, maximum punishment was not required,” Ray said.