The Alipore court on Tuesday granted four-day police custody of Monojit Mishra, the prime accused in the Kolkata law college rape case, and three of his co-accused, officials said.
The Kolkata Police had sought the custody of Mishra (31), a former contractual staffer at the college and an ex-functionary of the Trinamool Congress’ student wing, Zaib Ahmed (19), Pramit Mukherjee (20) and Pinaki Banerjee (55), citing fresh digital evidence and the need to question the four together.
The accused have been in judicial custody since July 8 following their arrest in connection with the June 25 incident.
While Zaib and Pramit were students, Pinaki Banerjee was employed as a security guard at the college. The three are accused of helping Mishra in committing the alleged crime.
Chief Public Prosecutor Sourin Ghosal said the police wanted to take the accused in custody as fresh digital evidence surfaced. “The police need to interrogate them due to some discrepancies in the statements of the accused. Also, all four need to be questioned together,” he said.
While Mishra’s lawyer Raju Ganguly on Tuesday prayed for his bail, the counsels for Zaib and Pramit did not appeal for the same though they sought “proper medical care” for the two.
Raju Ganguly contended that the ground of his client’s arrest has not been mentioned. “Even after so many days in custody, the police have not mentioned the ground for his arrest. Also, his family was not informed. False cases are being filed against him,” he said.
The counsel further submitted, “My client is a well-educated man. Why was his thumb impression taken instead of signature for DNA test? And no DNA test has been conducted on him.”
Dismissing the allegations that Mishra tortured and kidnapped the complainant, his counsel said, “How the allegations of kidnapping and torture arise when the complainant was chatting with Monojit in the student union’s room? It was also seen that she herself made an electronic money transfer to Pramit’s account to buy drinks.”
“Monojit’s girlfriend also wants to assist in the case. Let her statement also be taken,” he added.
Raising questions on the charges levelled by the complainant, Ganguly said that she did not go to the Kasba police station which is located just 600 metres from the college. “She goes out and calls her father. Why did she not go to the police station immediately? Why was there a delay in filing the complaint?” he asked.
“It is being claimed that Monojit is an influential person. If that was the case, how did he lose his job, and how his license was cancelled. Why is the complainant’s mobile not being seized and the WhatsApp chats analysed?” Ganguly submitted.
Pinaki Banerjee’s counsel submitted, “It is clearly seen (in CCTV footage) that my client is leaving. He was not present at the scene of crime. Why is he arrested? My client has no role other than being a witness in the case.”
The Detective Department of Kolkata Police had taken over the probe from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the case. The SIT, initially comprising five members and later expanded to nine, is now assisting the Detective Department in the inquiry.