Kolkata law college rape: Police reopen 12 cases against Monojit Mishra
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Kolkata: Police have reopened investigations against Monojit Mishra, the prime accused in the rape of a law college student in Kasba, Kolkata. According to city police sources on Wednesday, the move comes amid growing scrutiny over the handling of multiple past allegations against him.
Altogether 12 cases had previously been registered against Mishra on a range of serious charges, including hooliganism, assault with weapons, bringing anti-social elements onto the college campus to intimidate and assault junior students, and multiple complaints of sexual harassment of female students within the college premises.
Out of these 12 cases, two have already been reopened. Mishra has been formally shown as arrested in both. One of these pertains to a 2023 case involving charges of hooliganism and sexual assault, while the other, registered in 2024, relates to hooliganism. Police officials and legal teams are now examining the remaining 10 cases to assess their merit for potential reopening.
The developments have sparked public outrage and raised serious questions about the apparent inaction in the past. Observers argue that had authorities taken timely and appropriate action when the initial complaints were filed, the rape incident within the college premises on June 25 might have been prevented.
So far, four individuals have been arrested in connection with the case. Besides Monojit Mishra, the other two accused in the crime of rape are Jaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, both identified as key facilitators in the assault. The fourth person arrested is Pinaki Banerjee, a security guard at the college. According to the victim’s statement to police, Banerjee was the sole witness to the crime but remained helpless during the incident.
Adding to the gravity of the case, a new allegation has emerged against Mishra. He is now accused of facilitating the admission of ineligible students to the college each year in exchange for bribes ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.
Police continue to investigate the broader network of alleged corruption and criminal activity within the institution as the case unfolds.
With IANS inputs
