By Sulagna Halder
Kolkata, 3 July 2025:
Authorities have taken decisive action in the horrific gang rape case at South Calcutta Law College, according to the most recent update. The college has been ordered by the West Bengal Higher Education Department to rusticate current students Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukherjee and expel former student Manojit Misra, also referred to as "Mango".
At the same time, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the case has grown from five to nine members, allowing for the collection of more thorough evidence. Authorities verified that new CCTV footage supports the survivor's account, supporting the allegation that the incident was planned and meticulously planned.
The prosecution has reaffirmed its claim that the victim's inhaler, which was administered during a panic attack on June 25, was used to prolong the attack rather than to offer relief. During recent remand proceedings, a government lawyer claimed, "The inhaler was not given so that she could recover, but so that she could be brutalised again as soon as she recovered." Alipore Court is still in the middle of legal proceedings. Campus security guard Pinaki Banerjee has been placed under remand until July 4th, while Monojit Misra, Zaib Ahmed, and Pramit Mukherjee are still in police custody until July 8th. To support the survivor's claims, investigators have confiscated DNA samples, cell phone data, and additional CCTV footage.
The National Commission for Women and student organisations have reaffirmed their calls for immediate justice and institutional responsibility. To ensure an impartial process, a lawyer from the Calcutta High Court has urged the Chief Justice to take suo motu cognisance and start a Central Bureau of Investigation or court monitored investigation. The political reaction was prompt: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan compared the state government's repeated failures to ensure women's safety to the RG Kar Medical College case from the previous year. Kolkata is under increasing pressure to restore campus security and public trust, as evidenced by the education department's decision to expel the accused.
The administration of the college has pledged to cooperate fully with authorities as the investigation progresses. Reconstructing events and enforcing justice have advanced significantly with the SIT's expansion and the validation of CCTV evidence. Due to the case's ongoing national resonance, campus safety procedures and legal protections are being examined more closely.
Public scrutiny is still high as legal and administrative teams are pressed for time. While the survivor and her family await clear results and hope for reform in higher education institutions, authorities have promised to bring the accused to justice.
