By Sujit Bhar
On June 25, a horrifying act of sexual violence inside the South Calcutta Law College campus shocked West Bengal and the rest of the country. A 24-year-old female law student was brutally raped within the security guard’s room, right inside the institution that was supposed to protect and empower her. The accused, Monojit Mishra, also known by the nickname “Mango” (he had two accomplices) is a known Trinamool Congress (TMC) functionary and a former student of the same College. The sheer brutality of the crime and the political connections of the accused have again thrown a spotlight on the endemic culture of impunity that seems to protect the powerful in West Bengal.
According to the survivor’s formal complaint, Mishra lured her with a promise of an important student union post—she already is the girls’ secretary of the College, and she was called, purportedly for some “important discussion”. Instead, Mishra allegedly proposed to her, and when she turned him down, he ambushed her, dragged her into the guard’s room, and raped her, with two of his accomplices watching. The security guard was made to sit outside. Her cries and resistance were ignored, and it is alleged that the act was filmed. Her complaint also mentions physical assault with a hockey stick.
Her legal counsel, a professor from the same college, has confirmed that the survivor immediately informed her family and went to the police, despite the psychological trauma she endured.
Mishra is no stranger to controversy. Former batchmates and current students describe him as a “terror” who dominated the campus with impunity, often backed by his political connections. Reports suggest there are multiple complaints and FIRs pending against him, most of which have not seen the light of judicial scrutiny. This culture of fear and silence allowed his alleged predatory behaviour to continue unchecked.
The three accused, as also the guard, have been arrested.
ECHOES OF RG KAR
The incident comes just 11 months after the chilling rape and murder of a junior intern doctor at RG Kar Medical College. That case, too, had generated mass protests, and it momentarily appeared that justice might be served. However, the momentum was eventually lost. A civic volunteer was arrested, but strong circumstantial evidence clearly pointed to deeper institutional complicity, including the possible role of the then principal. That was never pursued. The CBI, brought in after a High Court directive, has made no meaningful progress. The case, for all practical purposes, is now dead.
There are strong fears that the law college rape case may follow the same trajectory. The immediate arrests of Mishra and two others (students Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukherjee) are seen by many as token actions. The charges, though serious, may have been deliberately weakened to allow legal manoeuvring later. Notably, sections relating to gangrape (Section 376D IPC) were not applied initially. Investigative delays and dilution of charges are classic tactics employed in politically sensitive cases.
What distinguishes this case is the unflinching courage of the survivor. Despite threats and the social stigma attached to sexual assault, she went public, filed a complaint, and secured legal assistance. Her statement to the police details the horrors of that night, and how she feared for her life. Forensic evidence reportedly includes a blood-stained bedsheet, hair samples, the hockey stick used for assault, and CCTV footage from the College premises.
She was also reportedly filmed during the act, a tactic often used by perpetrators to blackmail victims into silence. However, this survivor refused to stay quiet, turning that evidence against her assailants. Her strength has inspired a wave of student protests and women’s rights advocacy across Kolkata, even as the administration remains silent.
THE DARK POLITICAL UNDERBELLY
Mishra’s TMC affiliation has brought intense scrutiny to the ruling party. Opposition parties, especially the BJP (the main opposition party in the state, with 38 percent support, against the TMC’s nearly 47 percent), have demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and have called for a court-monitored investigation. While the TMC has officially condemned the act and distanced itself from Mishra, its past behaviour—particularly in the RG Kar case—has led many to believe that this distancing is merely performative.
Several student leaders and faculty members claim that complaints against Mishra were routinely suppressed by the College administration. Allegations of Mishra using his influence to gain access to administrative powers in the College have emerged. It raises serious questions about how deep the political rot goes within educational institutions in the state.
A public interest litigation has already been filed at the Calcutta High Court, seeking the immediate transfer of the case to the CBI. However, given the CBI’s abysmal handling of the RG Kar case, many are sceptical about whether this would bring justice or simply be another ploy to delay proceedings.
Nevertheless, judicial oversight is essential. There are concerns that the Kolkata Police, which reports to the state government, may be under pressure to underplay or mishandle the investigation. The appointment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been announced, but its autonomy is still in question.
IMPACT ON TMC’S FORTUNES
This case has the potential to damage the TMC’s image significantly, especially with state elections scheduled for 2026. The party has long cultivated an image of grassroots activism and social justice, particularly under Banerjee’s leadership. However, repeated incidents of sexual violence, followed by institutional inaction, are eroding that narrative.
The opposition is already mobilizing. Public rallies, social media campaigns, and legal actions are all being deployed to build momentum against TMC. The party’s perceived failure to protect women—even within educational institutions—could cost it urban youth and women voters, demographics it cannot afford to alienate.
There are some issues that need to be handled with urgency.
Immediate strengthening of charges: The accused must be booked under appropriate sections, including Section 376D (gangrape), kidnapping, and criminal intimidation. The delays in adding these charges are deeply suspicious.
Transparent investigation: A court-monitored SIT or an empowered CBI probe with judicial oversight is crucial. Any evidence tampering, coercion of witnesses, or political interference must be dealt with harshly.
Victim and witness protection: The survivor must be provided round-the-clock security, mental health support, and legal aid. Witnesses must be protected from intimidation.
Institutional reform: South Calcutta Law College must be audited for administrative lapses. Any staff member who aided or ignored Mishra’s behaviour should be suspended pending inquiry.
Political accountability: The TMC must go beyond statements and take demonstrable action, including expelling all accused from party ranks and cooperating fully with the probe.
This rape is, unfortunately, not an isolated incident—it is the symptom of a deep and dangerous malaise. West Bengal, once the most progressive and culturally free state, seems to have sunk into a deep dark pit that has major social implications, not to talk about implications in the ballot box. Today, as it seems, women in Bengal, especially students and working professionals, are increasingly finding themselves unsafe, even in supposedly secure spaces. The state’s institutions—police, colleges, even central agencies—have shown a shocking reluctance to pursue justice when political interests are involved.
The survivor of this heinous crime has shown extraordinary courage. Now it is up to the judiciary, civil society, and a vigilant public to ensure that her fight is not in vain. If the state fails her, it fails every woman who dares to dream of equality, dignity, and safety.
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