The alleged gang rape of a 24-year-old law student at South Calcutta Law College in Kolkata has escalated into a major political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of shielding the accused. The incident, which occurred on June 26, 2025, has sparked outrage and drawn parallels to a similar incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital ten months prior.
The BJP has launched a strong offensive, alleging links between the accused, Manojit Mishra, and top TMC leaders. BJP leaders, including national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari and IT cell chief Amit Malviya, have shared images of Mishra with prominent TMC figures, including Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya. Malviya described the situation as "outrageous" and claimed that Mishra has direct links with the "most powerful" individuals in the TMC. The BJP has accused the state government of attempting a cover-up and questioned why there has been silence on the matter. They further alleged that under Mamata Banerjee's rule, Bengal has become a "nightmare for women".
Mishra, a former student of the law college and a practicing lawyer, is also alleged to be the south Kolkata organisational secretary of Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the students' wing of the TMC. His social media profiles reportedly feature pictures of him at TMC events and with party leaders.
In response to the allegations, TMC leaders have condemned the crime and denied any links to the accused. Shashi Panja, a TMC leader, urged the opposition not to politicize the tragedy, emphasizing that strict action was underway. Trinankur Bhattacharya, president of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), acknowledged that Mishra was a party worker but claimed that he did not hold any significant position and that the party had no direct connection to him. Firhad Hakim, a West Bengal minister and Kolkata Mayor, also denied Mishra's association with the TMC. He stated that those who work for Trinamool with ideological commitment can never do anything wrong.
Meanwhile, disturbing details have emerged regarding the crime itself. The victim, a first-year law student, has alleged that she was gang-raped by three men inside the college premises. According to her complaint, she was lured into a guard's room, where the accused locked the main gate of the college. She further stated that she was beaten with a hockey stick, filmed during the assault, and threatened with the release of the video if she spoke about the incident. The victim also claimed that Mishra threatened to kill her boyfriend.
Police have arrested three accused: Manojit Mishra (31), Zaib Ahmed (19), and Pramit Mukherjee (20). All three have been sent to police custody until July 1. Medical reports have confirmed injuries on the woman's body consistent with sexual assault, including forceful penetration, bite marks, and nail scratches. The police have seized the mobile phones of the accused for forensic analysis.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and protests. Opposition leaders have called for statewide protests and demanded that the government address the alleged party links. The father of the RG Kar rape-murder victim also spoke out against the incident.
