Release of Rasik Chandra at 105, End of a 40-Year Prison Sentence

**Malda:** The end of a long imprisonment. At the age of 105, Rasik Chandra Mondal, a resident of Manikchak in Malda, has been fully released. Considering his age and physical illness, the Supreme Court has ordered the waiver of the remaining term of his life sentence. This decision from the apex court has brought joy to Rasik Chandra's family.

Rasik Chandra Mondal is a resident of West Narayanpur village in Manikchak, Malda. In 1988, he was accused of murdering his brother Suresh Mondal over a property dispute. In that case, he was convicted in 1994 and sentenced to life imprisonment. At that time, he was 74 years old.

After spending a long time in jail, Rasik Chandra approached the Kolkata High Court for release in 2018. However, his application was unsuccessful there. He then approached the Supreme Court. The apex court did not cancel his sentence either. However, with age, his physical condition continued to deteriorate.

In 2020, at the age of 99, Rasik Chandra applied for early release. His application mentioned various physical problems related to his old age and aging. In May 2021, based on that application, the Supreme Court sought information from the West Bengal government.

After that, the case continued for a long time. Finally, in November 2024, the apex court ordered his interim bail or parole release. He had been outside the jail since then.

Last Friday, a bench of three judges finalized the case. Considering Rasik Chandra's current age and physical condition, the court stated that he would no longer have to spend the remaining time of his life sentence in prison. In other words, he has effectively been fully released.

After nearly four decades of this case, the centenarian Rasik Chandra has returned to his family. Currently, his memory is quite weak. He cannot speak properly. This 105-year-old man now has the opportunity to spend his last days in his own way with his family.