Kolkata: The prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta, was rocked by a major scandal after a young woman alleged that she was raped by a second-year student of the premier institute in a room of the boys’ hostel within the campus on Friday.
The survivor is also a student of IIM-C but lived outside the campus. She was allegedly invited to the hostel by the accused on Friday for a counselling session.
She lodged a complaint at the Haridevpur police station in Kolkata and the accused, a resident of Karnataka, was taken into custody. The police are speaking with other boarders of the hostel and campus staff as well as faculty to know more about the incident.
There has been no statement from IIM-C so far.
The incident comes barely two weeks after a law student was gang-raped inside the South Calcutta Law College campus by an ex-student and two seniors.
So far as Friday’s incident is concerned, the survivor claimed she was offered food and drinks, after which she lost consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, she realised that she had been raped. She also claimed the accused threatened her with dire consequences if she spoke out.
She left the premises and went straight to the Thakurpukur police station to lodge a complaint from where she was sent to Haridevpur.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the survivor and the accused first connected on social media. This was regarding a problem she was having with another acquaintance. She apparently sought advice from the accused, who then invited her to campus for a discussion.
A mutual friend accompanied her, she told the police, but the accused allegedly asked for a private conversation and led her to a vacant hostel room where the assault took place.
The police have begun reviewing CCTV footage and are questioning students on campus. The effectiveness of the hostel’s security measures is also under scrutiny. Statements from the complainant and witnesses are being recorded, and IIM Calcutta’s administration is being kept informed.
The accused had stopped the survivor from signing the visitors’ register at the boys’ hostel, the police said. As per hostel rules, it is mandatory for every visitor to sign the register with her/his name and phone number.
“We are trying to find out if the accused had brought other women to the hostel. More people could be involved,” a police officer said.
Once inside the room she was offered a slice of pizza and soft drink. A little later she fell unconscious.
“She says she had attempted to resist in her condition. Those statements are being verified. A medical examination will be conducted,” the officer said.
