In a shocking development in the IIM Calcutta rape case, police have revealed that the accused student purchased sleeping pills from a nearby pharmacy and mixed them into cold drinks and water offered to the victim before allegedly committing the sexual assault. The accused, identified as Mahaveer Toppannavar alias Parmanand Jain, a 26-year-old final-year student, has reportedly admitted to drugging the woman during police interrogation.
Senior police officials disclosed on Monday that the accused confessed to buying sleeping pills specifically to spike the victim's beverages. The woman, who was called to the campus under the pretext of counseling, was allegedly given the drug-laced drinks in the boys' hostel before losing consciousness. She realized she had been sexually assaulted only after regaining consciousness later that evening.
The incident occurred on Friday at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Calcutta's boys' hostel at Joka on the outskirts of South Kolkata. According to the victim's complaint filed at Haridevpur police station, she was invited to the campus for a counseling session. The accused then led her to the hostel where he offered her drinks and pizza, which had been spiked with sleeping pills, causing her to become unconscious.
Police have noted discrepancies in the accused's statements during interrogation, strengthening the case against him. The victim's medical examination has provided evidence supporting her allegations, with authorities confirming that the assault took place while she was in an unconscious state due to the administered drugs.
Kolkata Police have constituted a nine-member Special Investigation Team under the Deputy Commissioner of the South West Division to ensure a thorough investigation into the case. The SIT formation demonstrates the seriousness with which authorities are treating this campus crime, given the prestigious nature of the institution and the gravity of the allegations.
The Alipore court remanded Mahaveer Toppannavar, also known as Parmanand Jain, to police custody until July 19. He has been charged under sections 64 (rape) and 123 (administering drugs or poison) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The accused was arrested on Friday night following the woman's complaint, with police acting swiftly on the serious allegations.
However, the case has taken an unexpected turn with conflicting statements from family members. The victim's father has denied any assault occurred, claiming instead that his daughter fell from an auto-rickshaw. Similarly, the accused's mother has maintained her son's innocence, describing the family as stunned by the development and asserting that her son is incapable of committing such an act.
The defense team argued that the encounter was consensual, but prosecutors successfully countered that prima facie investigation and medical evidence support the victim's version of events. The court's decision to grant police custody reflects the strength of the evidence gathered so far in the investigation.
IIM Calcutta administration has issued statements asking the public to avoid speculation about the case while the investigation is ongoing. The incident has sent shockwaves through the academic community, raising serious questions about campus safety and security protocols at premier educational institutions.
