The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has distanced itself from remarks made by its representatives, MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra, on the South Calcutta Law College gangrape case. An official post from the party's X handle stated, 'Comments made by MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra regarding the heinous crime at South Calcutta Law College are personal. The party disassociates itself from these remarks and strongly condemns them. These views do not represent the party's stance on this issue. Our position is clear: We have zero tolerance for crimes against women and demand the harshest penalties for everyone involved in this heinous crime.'
TMC MP Mahua Moitra also criticized the remarks by Banerjee and Mitra without mentioning their names. Commenting on TMC's X post, she expressed, 'Hatred towards women in India transcends party lines. What separates Trinamool Congress from other parties is that we condemn such despicable comments, regardless of who makes them.' However, Kalyan Banerjee disagreed with his party's statement. In a social media post, he wrote, 'I completely disagree with the post made by the Trinamool Congress on X. Is the party indirectly supporting those leaders protecting these criminals?'
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He further stated, 'Unless immediate action is taken against accountable leaders, mere academic statements won’t result in any real change. What’s more disheartening is that some leaders emerging post-2011 are under scrutiny for their involvement in such crimes. I want to distance myself from those who encourage or protect such criminals. Understanding the intent behind my words and statements requires a certain moral and intellectual level—unfortunately, it appears missing.'
The principal accused in the gangrape case is Manojit Mishra, leader of TMC's student wing. Police have also implicated two other students, Jayeb Ahmed (age 19) and Pramit Mukherjee (age 20), along with guard Pinaki Banerjee as co-accused. Manojit, previously president of the South Kolkata Law College's TMC student council unit and organizational secretary of TMC’s South Kolkata student wing, is one of four arrested. When media asked TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee about the gangrape, he stated, 'If a friend rapes their friend, what can be done? Should we deploy police in schools and academic institutions now? Who safeguards her (the victim)? Men are behind all crime and harassment; women must fight these depraved men.'
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TMC leader Madan Mitra said Saturday that the gangrape incident in Kolkata has advised girls against accepting student union positions if offered when colleges are closed. If she hadn’t attended, if she had informed someone or took two-three friends along, this wouldn't have happened. The perpetrator seized an opportunity.' On June 25, a 24-year-old student was gangraped at South Calcutta Law College in Kasba, Kolkata. According to the victim's police statement, as she reached campus to submit her exam form, she was assaulted, forcibly taken to the guard room, stripped, and raped.
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The victim revealed she rejected Manojit Mishra’s proposal for marriage, triggering the rape. She claims Manojit recorded the act on his mobile, later using the video to blackmail and threaten her. Police corroborate the accusations through medical evidence, confirming rape, bite marks, and nail scratches on her body were found. During the investigation, police didn’t rule out more arrests. Regarding Pinaki Banerjee's arrest, police stated he was present on campus and abandoned the victim in the guard room, following suspects' orders. Despite the woman's repeated cries for help, the guard didn’t aid her. It was his responsibility to inform college authorities or police, which he failed to do. His negligence was confirmed during questioning, leading to his arrest.
