Kolkata: Monojit Mishra, the main accused in the alleged gang-rape of a 24-year-old law student in Kolkata, has claimed that marks found on his body during a medical examination were not signs of struggle but instead ‘love bites’, his lawyer has said.

Speaking to media on Wednesday, Mishra’s lawyer, Raju Ganguly, detailed a conversation he had with his client.

“I asked him what had happened that such serious charges have been brought against him. He told me that everyone is portraying him as a villain,” Ganguly said.

The lawyer continued, “I told him it is being reported that he has several nail scratch marks on his body. He took off his shirt. I showed him one mark near his neck and asked him what it was. He told me it is a ‘love bite’. When I asked who gave it to him, the police took him away. I could not see any nail scratch marks. I only noticed the one mark on his neck.”

Call for forensic examination of victim’s phone

Ganguly also called for a deeper investigation, including the examination of the survivor’s mobile phone.

“I believe the victim’s phone should also be seized, sent for forensic analysis, and the call records should be produced before the court,” he said.

While refraining from drawing conclusions, the lawyer added, “I feel that perhaps this is not a rape case. I have not yet come to a conclusion. I would be able to tell you by 20th July whether this is rape or not.”

Details of the case

The alleged gang-rape took place on 25 June inside the security guard’s room on the South Calcutta Law College campus. The police have so far arrested four people Monojit Mishra, Zaib Ahmed, and Pramit Mukherjee, all students of the college, along with Pinaki Bandyopadhyay, the college security guard.

According to a source within the police department, a medical examination of Mishra revealed fresh scratch marks, believed to have been inflicted by the victim during the alleged assault.

“There are signs of injuries, precisely scratch marks, on the body of Monojit. These injuries are fresh. Such injuries happen when someone faces struggle or resistance,” police official said.

The survivor also underwent medical tests which reportedly confirmed her account of the attack. Doctors found signs of forceful penetration, bite marks, and nail scratches on her body. CCTV footage from the college campus showed the woman being dragged by the accused into the premises.

(With agency inputs)