Kolkata law college rape accused Monojit Mishra held key administrative post despite pending criminal charges, reveals notice
An August 13, 2024, notice bearing the college's official seal directed students to channel their college-related queries through Monojit Mishra.
'Students of all semesters are hereby informed that any query related to students dealings of the college kindly contact to 1. Mr. Monojit Mishra (office staff) mob : 2. Mr. Pallab Adhikary (office staff) till further notice,' read the notice purportedly issued by the college vice-principal.
This instruction was given even though police records indicate Monojit Mishra had a significant criminal history at that time.
Just nine days later, on August 22, 2024, the college issued another notice, strictly mandating that no student should remain on campus after 4 pm, with the final bell set for 3.45 pm. The alleged rape took place on the campus between 7.30 pm and 10.50 pm on June 25, raising further questions of oversight by the college.
' All the Students of B.A.LL.B (5-year course) [General & Honours] are hereby informed that 75% attendance is compulsory as per the University of Calcutta norms regarding C.U. Examination and College Internal Examination. College will not be responsible for short attendance for their concerned Examination. Students should clear their Session fees for the period 2024 — 2025. A final bell will ring at sharp 3.45 p.m. and Students should vacate the college premises by 4.00 p.m. every day and after 4.00 p.m. no students are allowed to stay or loiter in the college premises as per the order by the College Authority. If needed for Recommendation Letter or for any official purpose, visitors need to show valid ID proof while entering in the college and also mention proper reason for their visit at the entrance during the college hours only,' read the notice, also issued by the vice-principal.
Monojit Mishra, described as a graduate-turned-temporary staffer; two students, Pramit Mukherjee and Zaib Ahmed; and a security guard, Pinaki Banerjee, are the accused arrested in the rape case.
The contradiction between the college's stated rules about campus hours and the access granted to Mishra, coupled with his criminal background, has sparked widespread anger among students.
'How was a person like Mishra with such a criminal record not only recruited but also formally entrusted with administrative responsibilities? It was like the college kept making an effort to push Manojit as an influential person,' a student of the college told The Indian Express.
Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics.
With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.
Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
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