NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court of India has ordered the permanent release of 105-year-old Rasik Chandra Mondal, officially closing his case and waiving the remainder of his life sentence in a 1988 murder case.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana confirmed Mondal's interim bail on Friday, making it absolute. The court ruled that due to his extreme age and declining health, there was no justification to keep him in prison.
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"Even if the life sentence is not over, he will not be taken back into custody," the Chief Justice stated during the hearing.
Case Timeline
- 1988 (The Crime): West Bengal Police booked Mondal, a resident of Malda district born in 1920, for murder, rioting, and related offenses.
- 1994 (Conviction): A trial court found Mondal guilty of murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
- 2018 (Appeals Rejected): The Calcutta High Court dismissed his appeal against the conviction, a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court.
- 2020 (Plea for Release): At 99 years old, Mondal approached the Supreme Court seeking premature release on humanitarian grounds, citing severe age-related ailments.
- 2024 (Interim Bail): On November 29, 2024, the Supreme Court granted him temporary bail while his plea was under review.
- Present Ruling: The court finalized his release, permanently ending his sentence.
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With Friday's order, Mondal will live out his remaining days as a free man after nearly four decades of legal proceedings and imprisonment.
