Kolkata police constitute SIT to probe into rape of women by student on IIM-C campus

The Kolkata Police on Sunday (July 11, 2025) constituted a nine-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe into the alleged rape of a mental health counsellor by a student at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.

The police on Saturday (July 10, 2025) arrested Premanand Mahaveer Toppanavar, the 26-year-old student, for the sexual assault inside the institute. The accused has been remanded to police custody and charged under sections 64 (punishment for rape) and 123 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, based on the survivor’s complaint.

The Kolkata Police have sought the footage of CCTV inside the IIM-C premises from the authorities of the institute. Questions have been raised as to how the counsellor could enter the institute premises at Joka in the city without making entry in the register at the entrance.

According to the Kolkata Police, the survivor alleged that she met the accused inside the Lake View hostel on the campus and had pizza and water. She reportedly started feeling dizzy after that but “wasn’t allowed” to go to the washroom. She alleged that she lost consciousness shortly after and was subsequently raped on Friday (July 18, 2025). The institute, in a statement, has said that it is treating this matter with “utmost seriousness” and is cooperating with the law enforcement officials investigating the incident.

Father says woman wasn’t involved with accused

West Bengal Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident. Chairperson of the Commission Leena Gangopadhyay said that she was in touch with the police over the incident and would visit the woman and her family. “We want the truth to come out. If any social stigma or family pressure is preventing her family from speaking freely, that must be addressed. We are closely monitoring the developments,” she said.

The father of the sexual assault survivor, however, has said that his daughter had no involvement with the accused.

The allegation of sexual assault at a premier Union government institute comes within three weeks of the alleged gang rape and assault of a 24-year-old student in the premises of the South Calcutta Law College, raising questions about the safety of women in educational institutions in the city.