Rape in IIM Calcutta’s boys hostel, girl made unconscious after feeding her pizza

Kolkata, July 2025 — A city still reeling from recent reports of campus violence has been stunned again as a serious allegation emerged from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management–Calcutta (IIM‑C). A second-year postgraduate student named Premanand Mahaveer Toppannavar—also known as Parmanand Jain—was arrested by Kolkata Police after a female psychologist accused him of spiking her drink and raping her inside the boys’ hostel on campus. The accusation, formally filed under Sections 64 and 123 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, surfaced just weeks after a separate gang‑rape at a local law college, pushing campus safety back into the national spotlight The Times of India+12Telegraph India+12MorungExpress+12.

According to the police complaint, the victim was invited to the Lake View boys’ hostel under the pretense of a counseling session. Upon arrival, she was reportedly given pizza and water laced with sedatives. She alleges that she lost consciousness and later regained it to find herself inside the accused’s hostel room, at which point the assault occurred The Week. Terrified and disoriented, she fled the hostel, confided in a friend, and they together reported the incident to Haridevpur police. The accused and four others were subsequently taken into custody, with additional investigations ongoing ABP Live+4Telegraph India+4The Week+4.

Toppannavar, aged 26 and originally from Karnataka, was produced in court and remanded to police custody until July 19 The Times of India+11MorungExpress+11Menafn+11. Charges include rape, administering drugs, wrongful confinement, physical assault, and coercing the victim’s disrobing . The prosecution highlighted evidence from the medical examination and forensic samples, citing physical trauma and spore of forced intercourse, which they say support the allegations .

However, the case took a dramatic turn when the complainant’s father publicly declared that no rape occurred. He claimed his daughter lost consciousness after falling from an auto-rickshaw and that there was never any physical assault or encounter with Toppannavar The Times of India+12mint+12India Today+12. This revelation has introduced deep uncertainty into the investigation, with both sides now scrutinized for inconsistencies and motive.

In response to the allegation and the father’s statement, police are rigorously investigating all angles. Authorities have seized the accused’s clothes and mobile phone and plan to subpoena the hostel superintendent, security personnel, and anyone else who may shed light. CCTV footage is also being examined, and forensic teams have collected evidence from the room .

The institution itself has broken its silence, stating that the complainant is not a registered student and reaffirming cooperation with authorities. They emphasized their concern over how the woman gained access to the boys’ hostel without formal registration—a clear lapse in security protocols India Today. Ministry of Education officials have reportedly sought a detailed institutional report, recognizing IIM‑C’s central designation and national significance .

The timing of this case is particularly sensitive. Just weeks earlier, a high-profile gang-rape occurred at a law college in the same city, followed by a brutal doctor rape-murder in 2024. As a result, policymakers and campus security experts have called repeatedly for stronger safeguards and close monitoring of visiting individuals inside student accommodations Wikipedia+1The Times of India+1.

Political reaction has been swift. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury blasted the state government, claiming that law and order in Bengal is weakening daily as perpetrators operate with impunity. He urged immediate and stringent action to ensure justice and prevent future tragedies . Meanwhile, the accused’s parents, especially his mother, have proclaimed his innocence, stating they were shocked by his arrest and intend to meet him soon MorungExpress+4The Week+4Free Press Journal+4.

On the administrative front, police have increased security presence around the hostel. The campus area has been sealed off, and patrols intensified to reassure students and staff. Additional police personnel are on campus to monitor proceedings and ensure no interference in the ongoing investigation आज तक+2Telegraph India+2India Today+2.

Medical examination of the victim remains crucial. Investigators await the results to determine whether drugging, physical injuries, or forced sexual activity occurred. The results will strongly influence whether charges proceed or are dismissed .

Campus experts warn the incident reveals deeper issues. It underscores the dangers posed by the absence of visitor logs, insufficient hostel control, and the vulnerability of outsiders in male residencies. Tamil Nadu’s high-profile cases earlier this year led to reforms—alarms and warden presence—but West Bengal has yet to implement comparable protocols. Many now question whether repeated incidents are symptomatic of systemic neglect .

Looking forward, July 19—a judicial review date—will be pivotal. The court may extend Toppannavar’s custody or grant bail. It may also order further evidence analysis or, depending on the investigation’s depth, move toward trial.

As the case unfolds, numerous questions demand answers: Was this a crime of predatory violence or misinterpretation of events? Did institutional failings enable the incident? Will the police ensure a rigorous, unbiased investigation?

Above all, the matter demands justice and transparency—not only for the individuals involved but also for every woman who steps onto a campus. If institutions tolerate lax security, serving as silent enablers, communities suffer irrevocable trauma. Rippling effects may deter women from pursuing academic or professional aspirations in prestigious corridors once celebrated for excellence.

For now, uncertainty reigns across Kolkata. One narrative claims she was raped. Another asserts she simply fell out of transit. Yet both involve a woman reduced to trauma. That neither story should be accepted uncritically highlights the thin margins upon which truth balances.

In the days ahead, the police’s commitment to facts, medical science, institutional accountability, and courts’ fair process will determine if the colony of hope on Joka’s campus can avoid a legacy defined by mistrust and fear. Beyond the courtroom, lessons must be learned: improved security measures, strict access protocols, and comprehensive counseling and grievance mechanisms on campuses nationwide.

For many parents, students, and educators, this is no isolated incident—it is a flashpoint in a crisis of campus safety. The system’s efficacy will be judged not by rhetoric but by immediate action: reforms that prevent recurrence, rigorous investigations that resist manipulation, and convictions that reaffirm zero tolerance for violence.

In Kolkata, hope and anxiety now coexist. Justice seeks validation from science and scrutiny. Institutional reflection may become legislative policy. And victims demand more than sympathy—they demand sanctuary, both in law and in life. Regardless of the final verdict, this incident must stand as a turning point: not just a cautionary tale, but a catalyst for change rooted in dignity and safety for every student across India.

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