On June 25, 2025, between 7:30 pm and 10:50 pm, a woman was allegedly raped inside South Kolkata Law College by Trinamool Congress (TMC) student leader Monojit Mishra, along with his accomplices Zaib Ahmed (19) and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (30). According to police reports, Monojit Mishra is the General Secretary of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) in South Kolkata and a practicing lawyer at Alipore court.
Reports state that the incident began when Monojit Mishra’s associates locked the union room door. Monojit Mishra then took the victim near a washroom and tried to force himself on her. When she resisted and pleaded, saying she had a boyfriend, she experienced shortness of breath from panic.
The woman was then taken against her will to the guard’s room, where she even touched Mishra’s feet, asking him to let her go. Despite her pleas, Mishra raped her. During the assault, his accomplices reportedly watched. The victim’s complaint details that Mishra threatened her, claiming he would have her parents arrested, and showed her videos that he had recorded to blackmail her into cooperation.
According to her statement, Monojit Mishra threatened to kill her boyfriend and continued to assault her, even trying to hit her with a hockey stick. The ordeal ended when the victim stopped resisting in fear for her life. She was finally allowed to leave at 10:50 pm.
How the Case Unfolded
The victim called her father after leaving the college premises. She told him what happened, and later filed a police complaint on June 26. Medical examinations were conducted, and her statement was formally recorded.
Police reports say Monojit Mishra and Ahmed were arrested on June 26, while Mukhopadhyay was arrested the next day. The accused’s mobile phones were seized as part of the investigation. All three were produced before the Alipore Court on June 27.
Monojit Mishra’s Political Connections
Reports indicate that Monojit Mishra is not just a local student leader but has been seen frequently with top TMC figures. Images on social media show him with TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, Councillor Kajari Banerjee, Minister Firhad Hakim, Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, MP Mala Roy, and youth leader Sarthak Banerjee. He has also been photographed addressing events at TMCP offices.
As per his Facebook profile, Monojit Mishra is about 30 years old and identifies as a criminal lawyer. He previously served as President of the TMCP unit at South Kolkata Law College.
Victim’s Allegations of Blackmail and Coercion
The victim’s complaint reveals that Monojit Mishra pressured her to prove “loyalty” to him and TMCP. She said Mishra proposed marriage despite knowing she was already in a relationship. When she refused his advances, he used recorded videos of her to blackmail and threaten her, forcing her compliance under fear of public humiliation and harm to her family.
The case is under police investigation, with further proceedings pending in court.
Trust in Fair Process?
While no system can prevent every crime, the reaction from TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee reduced it to a matter between friends. He says “‘friend has raped a friend’” – casting a long shadow over hopes of an impartial investigation. His words reveal a mindset willing to downplay even the gravest allegations, raising fears that political ties might override justice.
Meanwhile, Bengal is becoming increasingly unsafe for women. In a statement, BJP West Bengal accused TMC leaders of shielding the accused, saying: “TMC MP comes out in support of rapists! In Kasba, a college student has been gang-raped by a TMCP leader and his gang. But TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee calls women’s safety concerns a mere ‘political agenda.'” The party further pointed to past incidents like the RG Kar case. Thereby, questioning why police provides security details to TMC rallies yet fails to protect women on campus. Such responses deepen the sense that women in Bengal are being left vulnerable and unheard.