IIM Calcutta ‘Rape’ Accused Granted Bail as Complainant Becomes Unreachable

Kolkata:

An Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court at Alipore granted interim bail on Saturday evening to Paramanand Mahaveer Toppannawar, a 26‑year‑old second‑year MBA student of IIM Calcutta, in connection with the alleged rape of a 24‑year‑old woman in the campus boys’ hostel on 11 July. He was remanded to seven‑day police custody following his arrest on 12 July by Haridevpur Police Station. The bail bond was set at ₹50,000, divided equally between cash and personal bond components.

During proceedings, the court expressed concern over the complainant’s unavailability, noting that she failed to record her statement before the magistrate on three separate dates: 13, 15 and 18 July, and has remained “incommunicado”. The prosecution informed the court that her mobile phone remains switched off and she has not cooperated with the police investigation. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate questioned, “Why is the statement of the woman not yet recorded by the police?”.

Toppannawar’s counsel, Subrata Sardar, argued that several procedural requirements had not been adhered to, citing the complainant’s failure to appear for her confidential statement and the medico‑legal examination. “This suggests her complaint was baseless,” he contended. The public prosecutor, Sourin Ghoshal, opposed the bail but acknowledged the delay, stating that the investigating officer had “not been able to speak to the woman”. Nevertheless, he maintained that a medical examination had taken place and medical findings supported the complaint.

The allegations stem from an FIR in which the woman, identified as a psychological counsellor, claimed she was invited to the hostel under the pretext of a counselling session. She alleges her drink was spiked and that she lost consciousness before realising she had been sexually assaulted. On the other hand, her father disputed the rape claim, stating she had fallen from a vehicle and sustained injuries.

Investigators have set up a nine‑member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the matter thoroughly. They have sought CCTV footage from 11 July covering the entire campus to verify the complainant’s movements, as discrepancies persist regarding her time of arrival, movements and departure. Access to the girls’ hostel has been tightened, with IIM Calcutta reportedly engaging about 20 contractual guards and barring delivery personnel from entering that area.

Alongside bail, the court imposed conditions on Toppannawar, including the requirement to report to the investigating officer every alternate day and a restriction on leaving the state. He is likely to be released on Sunday, pending receipt of the formal court order.

The case has intensified concerns over campus safety, particularly the vulnerability of women within higher‑education institutions. It follows two other high‑profile rape incidents in Kolkata this year and has prompted deeper scrutiny of college security measures.

As the legal process continues, the absence of the complainant’s recorded testimony remains a critical gap. The investigation is ongoing, and further developments are expected once her statement is officially recorded.