"Doing Everything" To Ensure Expeditious Probe: State Tells Calcutta High Court In Kolkata Law Student Rape Case

The West Bengal government today informed the Calcutta High Court that it is taking all steps to ensure that the probe into alleged incident of rape at the South Kolkata Law College is conducted and concluded in a timely manner.The court also asked the state to file an affidavit detailing the progress of the investigation since the filing of the FIR on 26th June 2025, as well as answer the queries raised by the public interest litigants regarding the lack of security measures on the college campus.Senior advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyay, appearing for the State, assured the division bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Smita Das De that the government is "doing everything” to ensure a timely resolution of the probe."That is what I am assuring you. It is my personal stand…I owe a duty to the court...I have asked for an immediate issuance of SoP on investigation," he submitted.In hearing the submissions of the senior counsel, the court asked for an affidavit to be filed, detailing the steps taken in probing the victim's complaint, as well as explaining the presence of a former student, who is accused in the case, on the campus of the college. The development comes in a PIL seeking an independent, court-monitored probe into the rape of a student within the college premises.The plea also seeks heightened security measures on college campuses in light of this incident following closely after the brutal rape and murder of at trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar hospital.After hearing the parties, the Court adjourned the matter, giving the State some time to file its reply-affidavit.BackgroundThree accused, including two fellow students and a lawyer were named by the complainant, who alleged that on 25th June, when she had visited the campus for some academic work, she was forcefully taken to multiple places in the college building, and finally to the guard's room, where she was sexually assaulted.The victim has also alleged that the accused had recorded a video of the act and threatened her not to reveal the details of her assault to anyone.Upon the filing of the complaint, the following day, the Kolkata Police arrested all three accused, as well as the guard, in whose room the act of assault had been allegedly committed.A local court in Kolkata had allowed the accused to be remanded in police custody.Notably, the West Bengal government had also formed a 9-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the issue, led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police.

"Doing Everything" To Ensure Expeditious Probe: State Tells Calcutta High Court In Kolkata Law Student Rape Case

Srinjoy Das

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