The Calcutta High Court, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, commuted the death sentences of Fagun Mandi alias Pui and Rabindra Routh alias Bhaku, who were convicted of the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl.
A Division Bench of Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi ordered life imprisonment for the two convicts instead. They stipulated that the convicts would not be eligible for remission. This means no premature release for 60 years from the date of the crime.
The Court acknowledged the extreme depravity of the crime, noting that the convicts not only raped the child but also inserted bamboo sticks into her private parts. However, the bench also considered the State’s submission that the possibility of their reformation still exists.
Therefore, the High Court aimed to strike a balance between the gravity of the offense and the punishment. The Court ordered the 60-year non-remission period. It took into account the convicts’ age and socio-economic background. It also considered their mental health conditions and the nature of the crime.
Mandi and Routh had been awarded death sentences by a trial court in June 2023 for offenses including gang rape, murder, causing disappearance of evidence, kidnapping, and offenses under the POCSO Act. The prosecution stated that the two men had abducted the girl, raped her, strangled her, and then hid her body.
The State government’s report indicated that both convicts came from socially backward backgrounds. They were slow learners with little education. The report also stated that they had no prior criminal antecedents. Mandi was noted to have severe speech problems, and Routh was reportedly depressed and undergoing psychiatric treatment. Their behavior in the correctional home was described as good.
The High Court recognized that the release of the convicts without sufficient safeguards could be a menace to society. Ultimately, they decided that a life imprisonment without remission for 60 years would serve the ends of justice. This decision considered the circumstances and the possibility of their reformation.
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