Kolkata: A student of the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta has been arrested in connection with an alleged rape incident on campus. The accused reportedly admitted to purchasing sleeping pills from a nearby pharmacy and mixing them with cold drinks and drinking water offered to the woman prior to committing the crime, a senior police officer said on Monday.
Police noted discrepancies in the student's statements. "The accused had admitted to having bought sleeping pills and spiked the cold drinks and drinking water which he had offered the woman when she was there. But he could not clarify what the real intention was behind doing all these to a woman who went to him for counselling. He is not answering this question," the officer said.
Circumstantial evidence suggests that after consuming the spiked drink, the woman went to a room in the boys’ hostel where the alleged crime took place. "The accused, after committing the crime, rang up one of his friends and narrated the entire crime. During the conversation, he was loitering in the verandah in front of the room where the crime took place," the officer added.
Authorities are also examining details about the survivor, including her professional credentials. "She could not place any documents supporting her qualifications as a psychologist. She has not disclosed which institution she attended. We are yet to get information about her chamber and any prescription having her name and other details," the officer said.
Police are investigating inconsistencies in the statements made by the victim’s father and are exploring whether external pressure or financial dealings may have influenced the change. "They were also investigating whether there was any financial transaction behind this change of statement of the victim's family," the officer added.
To expedite the investigation, a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by an assistant commissioner from the South West Division has been constituted. The incident reportedly took place on Friday in a boys’ hostel, and the student was arrested on Saturday following an FIR lodged by the woman at Haridevpur Police Station.
A local court has remanded the accused to police custody until July 19.
(inputs from PTI)