Kolkata Law College Gangrape Trial Faces Delay Over Procedural Question
The much-anticipated trial in the shocking Kolkata law college gangrape case failed to commence as scheduled on Tuesday, with the court now deliberating on a crucial procedural matter regarding the sequence of witness testimonies.
Court to Decide on Survivor's Statement Priority
The prosecution has formally requested that the survivor's statement be recorded before any other witnesses are examined in this sensitive case. After hearing arguments from all sides, the First Additional District Judge of Alipore Judge Court has reserved the order, with a decision expected on February 9.
This development marks a significant procedural moment in a case that has drawn national attention since the incident occurred in June 2025. The court was initially scheduled to hear forensic evidence, but the prosecution's application has taken precedence.
Complex Case with Multiple Accused and Witnesses
The case involves four accused persons arrested in connection with the June 25 incident, with a chargesheet filed against them in August. Only one of the accused, college security guard Pinaki Bandhopadhay, is currently out on bail.
The three remaining accused in judicial custody are:
- Manojit Mishra alias Mango, a former contractual staffer at the college and former TMC students' wing functionary
- Student Zaib Ahmed
- Student Pramit Mukhopadhyay
All four accused appeared before the court on Tuesday, with their legal representatives present. Advocate Dibyendu Bhattacharya, representing security guard Bandhopadhay, confirmed the February 9 date for the court's decision on the statement recording sequence.
Serious Charges Framed Against Accused
Earlier this month, the court formally framed charges against all four accused, encompassing multiple serious offenses:
- Gang rape under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code
- Common intention and criminal conspiracy
- Abduction with intent to cause grievous hurt
- Wrongful confinement
- Causing disappearance of evidence
- Voluntarily causing grievous hurt
Additional charges have been specifically filed against Mishra, Mukhopadhyay, and Ahmed, including voyeurism and making/circulating videos of a woman without her consent under the Information Technology Act.
Background of the Case
The case originated in June 2025 when a 24-year-old law student alleged she was gang-raped by Mishra, Ahmed, and Mukherjee inside the college security guard's room. According to the police chargesheet, the security guard had vacated the room specifically for the commission of the crime.
The investigation revealed particularly disturbing details: the accused allegedly filmed the assault through a hole in the wall where an exhaust fan should have been installed. Meanwhile, the security guard reportedly locked the college gates and moved to another part of the campus.
Investigators later recovered these videos from the mobile phones of the accused, which became crucial evidence in the case. The chargesheet further alleges that Mishra used the footage to blackmail the survivor and that the entire crime was premeditated in nature.
With 83 witnesses listed for the trial, the case represents one of the most complex and closely watched legal proceedings in recent Kolkata judicial history. The court's decision on February 9 regarding the survivor's statement will set important parameters for how this sensitive trial proceeds.
