Kolkata Law College gangrape case: Four accused remanded to 14-day judicial custody

Kolkata: The Alipore Court has remanded all four accused in the South Kolkata Law College gangrape case to 14 days of judicial custody.

The alleged assault took place on June 25 inside the premises of South Calcutta Law College in the city’s Kasba area. Kolkata Police arrested the three main suspects within 12 hours on June 30.

Initially, the court had placed the three key accused — Monojit, Pramit and Zaib — in police custody until July 8. The fourth accused, security guard Pinaki, was held in custody until July 4.

The case has triggered strong public outcry and judicial scrutiny. The Kolkata High Court earlier directed the West Bengal government to respond to three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed in connection with the incident. The Court also raised questions over why the college’s governing body had not been made a party to the case.

Kolkata Police confirmed on Wednesday that the city’s Detective Department will now lead the investigation.

Political reactions have also intensified. Leader of Opposition in West Bengal and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the state’s education sector has been “polluted” by individuals affiliated with the ruling party.

“All of these are former TMC workers and are now employed as permanent or casual staff in colleges. They have polluted the state's education system. They are involved in rape, molestation, extortion of money, controlling admission, college festivals, college infrastructure and even managing the money sent by the Centre. All recruitments are illegal. Groups C and D of the college's University are affiliated with the Governing Body. The College Service Commission controls only the professors and the Principal. Taking advantage of it, the TMC workers are recruited as casuals, on paper, 280 days of continuous job is shown, after which they are regularised,” Adhikari said.

Meanwhile, a BJP’s fact-finding team, which visited Kolkata to probe the incident, submitted its report to party national president JP Nadda on Tuesday. The team comprised former Union Ministers Satpal Singh and Meenakshi Lekhi, Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra, and Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb.

Reacting to the submission, Nadda said, “This report exposes the utter state of lawlessness in West Bengal and the state government's alarming insensitivity towards women's safety. From Sandeshkhali to RG Kar Hospital and now this, the pattern remains the same with silence, inaction and protection for the accused.”

The case continues to stir debate over campus safety and political interference in educational institutions across the state.