kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Kolkata court on August 6, 2025, granted police custody for four days to Monojit Mishra—the prime accused in the shocking law college rape case—and three others, following their prolonged judicial detention since July 8. The move comes after Kolkata Police presented fresh digital evidence and argued that joint questioning was necessary due to discrepancies in the accused’s statements .

Monojit Mishra, aged 31, served as a contractual staff member at the South Calcutta Law College and had previously held a leadership position within the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad. The other accused include two students, Zaib Ahmed (19) and Pramit Mukherjee (20), along with security guard Pinaki Banerjee (55), who is alleged to have aided in confining the victim inside his guard room while Mishra allegedly raped her on June 25 .

Prosecutor Sourin Ghosal stated in court that digital forensics raised concerns about contradictions in the accused testimonies and that coordinated interrogation was essential to clarify their involvement. While Mishra’s counsel filed a bail plea, the lawyers for Zaib and Pramit sought only proper medical care. Pinaki Mukherjee’s bail application is also pending.

The extension of custody underlines the gravity of the charges amid growing evidence. Earlier court orders had extended judicial custody until July 22 and then to August 5 as the court questioned why despite multiple complaints against Mishra dating back to 2023, no prior action had been taken against him. The court underscored concern over administrative inaction in the face of repeated allegations .

The law college lost no time in responding: its governing body terminated Mishra’s contract, expelled the two student accused, and issued show-cause notices to the security agency in charge of campus surveillance. It also pledged support for the victim’s family, including medical expenses, banned outsider entry to the premises, tightened security, restructured campus timings, and suspended cultural activities until further notice .

Meanwhile, public interest litigation in the Calcutta High Court has intensified the scrutiny. Lawyers have demanded a CBI-monitored investigation and a judicial commission headed by a retired High Court judge to probe institutional failures that allowed such a crime to occur on college premises. Respondents also pressed for safety audits across West Bengal’s higher education institutions and greater enforcement of anti-harassment regulations .

The incident has sparked broader alarm across the academic community. Principals of other Kolkata colleges are now tightening access controls, improving surveillance and enacting stricter safety protocols after the institution meant to uphold legal principles became the site of a violent crime .

The Kolkata Police’s Detective Department has taken over from the earlier SIT and is leading the investigation, adding charges like kidnapping and voyeurism to the FIR. The expanded probe aims to build a comprehensive case based on forensic documentation, CCTV recordings, and mobile data under closer judicial oversight .

This high-profile case is not only a legal flashpoint but a political flashpoint as well. Opposition parties and civil society groups have seized upon the allegations—particularly Mishra’s past political affiliations—to demand accountability from the ruling party. The case has reignited public debate over campus safety, institutional negligence, and the influence of political patronage in educational settings .

Amid mounting pressure, the accelerated police custody order—and surrounding administrative and legal actions—reflect an urgent attempt to bring clarity, pursue justice, and restore trust in institutions supposed to foster academic integrity and safety.