The alleged rape case at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta continues to unfold with new developments. The accused student, Paramanand Mahaveer Toppannawar, has been granted interim bail with a bond of ₹50,000. This decision comes amidst conflicting reports and an ongoing police investigation.

According to initial reports, the alleged victim, a 24-year-old woman who worked as a psychological counselor, filed a complaint stating that she was drugged and raped by Toppannawar, a second-year IIM-C student, in a hostel room. She claimed that she was invited to the hostel for counseling purposes and was offered food and drink, after which she lost consciousness and was allegedly raped. Following the complaint, the Kolkata Police arrested Toppannawar and formed a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the incident.

However, the case took a turn when the alleged victim's father reportedly made a statement contradicting his daughter's claims, stating that she was "doing fine" and that she was "made to lodge the complaint". He also mentioned that his daughter said that no one misbehaved with her. This change in statement raised suspicions, and police are investigating whether there was any pressure or financial transactions influencing the family's position.

Adding to the complexities, police have stated that the alleged victim has been unreachable and uncooperative with the investigation. She reportedly did not appear to record her statement before a magistrate or undergo a medical examination. Additionally, she has allegedly refused to provide her clothes for forensic examination. Police also stated that they couldn't contact the survivor as her and her father's mobile phones were switched off.

During interrogation, Toppannawar admitted to purchasing sleeping pills and mixing them into the cold drinks and water he offered to the woman. However, he has not clarified his intentions for doing so, according to a police officer. Police have also raised questions regarding the woman's professional background, stating that there were discrepancies in her claim of being a psychologist. They reported that she could not provide documents supporting her qualifications, and details about her chamber or prescriptions were not disclosed.

The IIM-Calcutta administration has stated that it is fully cooperating with the law enforcement authorities and has a zero-tolerance policy for such incidents. The institute's academic council was scheduled to meet to discuss whether to allow Toppannawar to attend classes if granted bail and will take legal opinion regarding the matter.

The SIT is currently analyzing call data records of both the accused and the woman to determine the nature and duration of their acquaintance. The police are also investigating whether the accused used sleeping pills to spike the food and water offered to the woman. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to gather all necessary evidence to ascertain the truth behind the allegations.