Calcutta High Court Declines Urgent Hearing To Bengal Cricketer Abhishek Porel In Alleged Rape Case

The Calcutta High Court on Monday declined to grant an urgent hearing to Bengal cricketer Abhishek Porel in connection with a case of alleged rape on the pretext of marriage, filed by an MBBS student, with whom Porel was allegedly in a relationship. 

Porel's lawyer mentioned the matter before Justice Saugata Bhattacharya, submitting that his bail plea had earlier been refused on the ground that a writ petition concerning the case was pending before his bench.

It was further submitted that the police had now filed the chargesheet in the case and that Porel's electronic devices had also been seized, as sought in the writ petition.

The lawyer therefore sought urgent listing of the matter, pointing out that Porel is a Bengal cricketer and that the selection process for the upcoming season was expected to commence shortly.

The Court, however, declined to grant any special accommodation for urgent listing.

"File a bail application before this court and take steps in accordance with law," the Court observed.

When the lawyer sought an urgent hearing, the Court clarified that the matter would come up as per its listing and that there would be no "upgradation" of the matter for an earlier hearing. The Court remarked that the allegations against him were serious.