Landmark Order: Kolkata Court Extends Police Custody in College Rape Case

In a groundbreaking legal decision, a Kolkata court has ordered an additional three-day police custody for four individuals accused in the South Calcutta Law College rape case. This marks the first application in West Bengal of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), a new law permitting police to seek remand within 60 days of an arrest for heinous crimes.

The prime accused, Monojit Mishra, and his alleged accomplices, Pramit Mukhopadhyay, Zaib Ahmed, and a security guard, Pinaki Banerjee, are implicated in the on-campus rape of a first-year student. The court's decision was influenced by fresh evidence from cyber and forensic experts that purportedly contradicted previous statements by the accused.

Kolkata Police Chief Public Prosecutor, Sourin Ghosal, explained the necessity for further interrogation to align the new evidence with past testimonies. Despite defense attempts for bail, the court found compelling reasons to continue detention, considering the serious nature of the crime.

(With inputs from agencies.)