Today, On 30th June, In the Kolkata Law College gang-rape case, three PILs were filed in the Calcutta High Court seeking an urgent hearing and a court-monitored investigation led by a retired judge to ensure justice and accountability.
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court granted three advocates the authority to file separate Public Interest Litigations (PILs) concerning the alleged gang rape of a law student at her college. They are requesting a court-supervised investigation and measures to enhance security in colleges throughout West Bengal.
During a session with a division bench led by Justice Soumen Sen, the advocates sought permission to submit their PILs, which was subsequently granted.
The cases are expected to be heard later this week, according to one of the lawyers involved.
Three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) have been submitted to the Calcutta High Court regarding an alleged rape incident at a law college in South Kolkata.
Presented before the division bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Smita Das De, the PILs have been accepted, and the case is expected to be heard on Thursday.
The advocates requested an urgent hearing and an investigation overseen by the Calcutta High Court, led by a retired judge. Additionally, one of the pleas called for enhanced security measures in various colleges across the state, along with regular status updates on such security initiatives.
The 24-year-old victim arrived at the college around noon on the same day to fill out examination forms and initially waited in the college union room. According to her complaint, the main accused instructed that the main gate be locked, after which she was allegedly raped in the security guard’s room on campus.
In her complaint, the woman reported that the main accused pressured her to marry him, but she refused, citing an existing relationship. She alleged that he then threatened to harm her boyfriend and involve her parents in false cases before confining her at the college and assaulting her, resulting in injuries despite her attempts to resist.
Recounting the events, she stated in her complaint,
“They tried to force me with the intention of having sex.”
She described how she fought back, saying,
“I denied and fought back by not letting him do anything and pushing him back. I cried and asked him to let me go. I told them I have a boyfriend and I love my boyfriend. But they did not agree.”
According to her, she fell to the ground, begging the main accused to release her, but to no avail.
She stated in her complaint,
“I touched his feet but he didn’t let me go… They again took me to the room… they took me to the guard room forcefully, undressed me and started forcefully raping me,”
The survivor mentioned experiencing a panic attack and shortness of breath but received no assistance.
“I asked them to take me to hospital but they were not helping me. They had locked the main gate of the college and the guard was helpless and did not help.”
Despite her pleas and even touching the main accused’s feet, she was not allowed to leave.
“They again took me to the room… they took me to the guard room forcefully, undressed me and started forcefully raping me.”
She claimed that the assault was recorded, and she was subsequently blackmailed into silence.
“They recorded videos of mine when the accused was raping me. They threatened me to show these videos to everyone if I do not cooperate.”
She further added that when she tried to escape, they attempted to hit her with a hockey stick.
Her complaint concluded,
“I need justice,”
The victim stated that she was eventually permitted to leave later that evening, but only under the threat of further harm.
After the victim filed a complaint, the Kasba Police Station registered a First Information Report (FIR) and initiated an investigation. The accused have been identified as Monojit Mishra, 31, a former student and past president of the college’s Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), along with 19-year-old Zaib Ahmed and 20-year-old Pramit Mukherjee (also known as Pramit Mukhopadhyay).
In response to the case, the Kolkata Police established a five-member special investigation team (SIT), headed by an officer with the rank of assistant commissioner.
Mishra and Ahmed were apprehended on the evening of June 26 near Siddhartha Shankar Sishu Roy Udyan at Talbagan Crossing, where their mobile phones were confiscated. Mukherjee was arrested from his home around 12:30 AM on June 27, with his phone also taken by police.
Authorities confirmed that the alleged crime took place within the college building. A preliminary medical examination of the victim has been completed, and witness statements have been collected. The scene of the alleged incident has been secured for forensic analysis.
All three suspects were presented before the Alipore court on Thursday. The police requested a 14-day custody for further investigation, but the court granted custody until the following Tuesday.