Kolkata Police Launch Investigation into Alleged Campus Rape Incident

Investigation Initiated by Kolkata Police

The Kolkata Police have established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the reported rape of a woman at the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta, as reported by a local news outlet on Sunday.

A student from Karnataka has been arrested in connection with the case, with an Alipore court placing him in police custody until July 19.

Interestingly, the father of the woman has asserted that the alleged incident did not occur.

According to unnamed police sources, the accused had invited the complainant, who is a student from a different institution, to the campus under the pretext of a counselling session.

The two reportedly connected online and developed a rapport through discussions about their studies and future careers, as noted by another news source.

The complainant stated to the police that upon meeting at the institution's entrance, the man instructed her not to sign the visitors' log. He then led her to the boys' hostel instead of the intended counselling location.

Once there, she claimed she was offered pizza and water, which she believes were drugged, leading to her loss of consciousness and subsequent sexual assault.

She recounted being semi-conscious for a period before completely losing awareness.

After regaining consciousness later that evening, she found herself alone in the hostel room, as reported by another media outlet.

Following her departure from the campus, she reached out to a friend, and together they went to the police station to file a complaint on Friday.

The police have initiated a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code concerning rape and administering harmful substances with intent to commit an offense.

Authorities are also investigating the potential involvement of four additional individuals, who have been detained for questioning.

The hostel room where the incident allegedly took place has been sealed off, and forensic evidence has been gathered from the site.

Reports indicate that the woman declined to undergo a medical examination 48 hours post-incident, according to police sources.

Her father has claimed that the police coerced her into filing the complaint.

He recounted receiving a call from his daughter around 9:40 PM on Friday, during which she mentioned falling from a vehicle and losing consciousness, later discovering she had been admitted to SSKM Hospital.

He expressed skepticism about the police's narrative, stating, “Based on what I learned from my daughter, nothing like what the police are alleging occurred.”

The State Women’s Commission has taken notice of the situation, with its chairperson emphasizing the need for the truth to emerge.

“If any societal stigma or familial pressure is hindering her family from speaking openly, that issue must be addressed,” she stated.