Kolkata Gangrape Case: TMC Leader Madan Mitra Sparks Outrage with Controversial Comment — ‘If the girl hadn’t gone there…’

In a controversial statement on Saturday, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Madan Mitra commented on the alleged gangrape of a female student at South Calcutta Law College, suggesting that the incident sends a message to young women to avoid visiting their colleges when closed—especially if invited under suspicious circumstances.

The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday, June 25, inside the law college in Kolkata’s Kasba area.

“This incident sends a message to girls—if someone calls you to the college when it’s closed with offers of a position in a student unit, don’t go. Nothing good can come of it. If that girl hadn’t gone, this wouldn’t have happened,” Mitra told ANI.

He went on to suggest that the student should have informed someone or brought friends along, implying the crime could have been avoided. “If she had told someone before going, or had taken friends with her, this wouldn’t have happened. The one who did this took advantage of the situation,” he said.

Mitra’s remarks follow another controversial statement by TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, who said, “If a friend rapes a friend, how can you ensure security?”—drawing heavy criticism for downplaying the crime.

Distancing the party from the main accused, Manojit Mishra, a leader in the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), Mitra said, “TMC is a large party. People take photos with us and claim association. But only a psychologist can understand what someone is really like.”

He added, “Just because someone has a photo with a TMC leader doesn’t mean they represent the party.”

SIT Formed to Investigate the Case

As the political backlash intensifies, Kolkata Police has formed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Pradip Kumar Ghosal from the South Suburban Division will lead the investigation.

The three accused — Manojit Mishra, Zaib Ahmed, and Pramit Mukhopadhyay — have been remanded to police custody until July 1.

Opposition parties have mounted pressure on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, demanding accountability, her resignation, and improved safety measures for women in educational institutions.