The father of a young woman who alleged rape inside the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta has denied that any sexual assault occurred, claiming instead that his daughter fell out of an autorickshaw and lost consciousness.
The development has stirred controversy around the case, which had initially led to the arrest of an IIM-Calcutta student on the basis of a first information report filed at Haridevpur Police Station.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the father said, “I received a call at 9:34 pm on Friday informing me that my daughter had fallen out of an auto and lost her senses. She was taken to the neurology department of SSKM Hospital. The police rescued her and admitted her there.”
He added that his daughter later told him she had not been sexually assaulted. “The police told me they have registered a case and arrested someone. My daughter said the police told her to say something during the medical exam, and she did not.”
“I have spoken to my daughter. She said no one tortured her or misbehaved with her. I have got back my daughter, she is normal. She has no connection with the man who has been arrested... I have not been able to speak to her at length. She is sleeping. I will talk to her after she wakes up... She had gone to submit a document,” he said.
When asked by a journalist whether his daughter was traumatised, the father replied, “No, she is completely fit.”
The statement runs contrary to what was stated in the FIR, where the woman alleged that she was invited to the hostel for a counselling session. She claimed she lost consciousness after consuming a drink offered by the student, which she believed had been spiked. On regaining awareness, she alleged that she had been raped.
“The woman stated in the FIR that she was called to the hostel for a counselling session. She then became unconscious after consuming a drink laced with drugs at the hostel. The woman realised she had been raped after regaining consciousness,” a police officer said.
Also read: IIM Calcutta student held for drugging, raping psychologist
The arrested student has been remanded in police custody till July 19. His lawyer contended before a Kolkata court that the woman was a counsellor, and that the two had connected online. He maintained that his client was being framed.
“The woman had come to the IIM-Calcutta hostel to provide counselling. There is no question of any assault. My client is being falsely implicated,” the lawyer told the court.
IIM-Calcutta's response
The case has drawn attention from the IIM-Calcutta administration. Saibal Chattopadhyay, Director-in-Charge of the institute, released an official statement affirming the institution’s cooperation with the authorities.
“The administration of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta has been made aware of a serious complaint involving one of our students and the Complainant is not of the Institute. We are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and are fully cooperating with the law enforcement authorities, who are currently conducting an investigation,” the statement read.
“The Institute is committed to ensuring that due process is followed while safeguarding the dignity, safety, and privacy of all individuals involved,” it added.
“We wish to affirm that the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta has zero tolerance for such incidents and remains steadfast in upholding a safe and respectful campus environment. We are also taking all necessary steps to support the process of ongoing investigation and ensure that institutional protocols are adhered to,” the statement further said.
No official word has yet been issued by Kolkata Police regarding the contradictory version offered by the woman’s father, even as the investigation continues.
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