The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged rape case at a Kolkata law college has been expanded to expedite the investigation, according to police officials. The SIT, initially comprised of five members, has been increased to nine. This move follows significant progress in the investigation, with CCTV footage corroborating the survivor's account.

The alleged rape occurred on June 25 at the South Calcutta Law College, inside the security guard's room. The victim, a 24-year-old first-year student, filed a written complaint with the Kolkata Police, leading to the arrest of four individuals. Those arrested include Monojit Mishra, 31, a contractual staffer and former student of the college; Zaib Ahmed, 19, and Pramit Mukherjee, 20, both current students; and Pinaki Banerjee, the college's security guard.

More than seven and a half hours of CCTV footage from the college's external gate and premises have been collected and examined. According to a senior police officer, the CCTV footage corroborates the survivor's statement, specifically her claim that she was prevented from leaving the college premises. The footage also confirms the presence of all four accused at the scene on the day of the alleged rape. The footage reportedly captured the movements of the victim, the three accused individuals, and the college security guard. It also captured the moment the victim was allegedly forcibly taken into the guard's room.

Investigators have collected evidence from multiple locations within the campus, including the students' union room, a washroom, and the guard's room. Items seized, such as strands of hair, bottles containing unidentified liquids, and a hockey stick, are undergoing forensic analysis. Police also noted visible signs of struggle in these areas, further corroborating the victim's account.

The police have also retrieved video clippings of the crime, each around 90 seconds long, from the cellphones of the three accused. The survivor alleged that the accused filmed the sexual assault and threatened to circulate the clips if she reported the incident. The evidence is being sent for forensic confirmation.

The survivor was taken back to the college to reconstruct the sequence of events, which was videographed. The SIT is expected to record confidential statements from the survivor and her parents as part of the ongoing investigation.

The incident has sparked widespread protests and political outrage. The BJP has accused the TMC of shielding the prime accused, Monojit Mishra, pointing to his ties with senior party leaders. Photos circulating show Mishra with Abhishek Banerjee, a TMC Lok Sabha MP and the Chief Minister's nephew.