A 24-year-old law student was allegedly gang-raped on June 25, 2025, inside South Calcutta Law College, sparking outrage and political controversy. The medical examination, conducted on June 26 at Kolkata’s National Medical College, confirmed abrasion marks on the victim’s neck and chest, indicating physical assault. The report noted signs of forced penetration, supporting the survivor’s allegations.
The prime accused, Monojit Mishra, a 31-year-old former student and Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) leader, was arrested on June 28 alongside two current students, Zaib Ahmed (19) and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20). A college security guard, Pinaki Banerjee, was arrested the same day for his alleged involvement. The assault occurred in the guard’s room, which the accused reportedly commandeered. CCTV footage confirmed Banerjee’s presence, and items like the bedsheet were sent for forensic examination.
The survivor alleged Mishra targeted her after she rejected his marriage proposal. He offered her the college union’s general secretary post as a lure before the assault. Zaib and Pramit allegedly recorded the crime, believing the threat of circulating the video would deter the survivor from reporting. Mishra, with 11 prior cases of harassment and misconduct, had a history of intimidating women.
On July 1, doctors found fresh scratch marks on Mishra’s body, indicating resistance by the survivor. His lawyer, Raju Ganguly, claimed these were “love bites,” a defense contested by the prosecution. The Kolkata Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed to probe the case, interrogated the college vice principal, Dr. Nayna Chatterji, after evidence of a call from Mishra on June 26.
The Calcutta High Court, on July 3, ordered the Bengal government to submit an affidavit on the investigation’s progress by July 10, when the case diary is due. The court also mandated closing the student union office until elections. All four accused were remanded to 14 days of judicial custody by Alipore Court on July 9.
The case has fueled political tensions, with the BJP accusing the TMC of shielding Mishra, citing his ties to TMC leaders like Abhishek Banerjee. The TMC distanced itself, promising legal action. Protests erupted in Durgapur, reflecting public outrage. (Rh/Eth/RS)
