A psychologist was allegedly raped by a second-year student inside the boys’ hostel at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta’s Joka campus on Friday, triggering outrage from opposition parties Congress and CPI(M). The accused, identified as Mahaveer Toppannavar alias Parmanand Jain, was arrested following an FIR lodged at Haridevpur Police Station, police confirmed Saturday.

The victim, invited to the hostel for a counseling session, alleged she was drugged with a laced drink, lost consciousness, and was raped. She also claimed the accused threatened her with dire consequences if she spoke out. The incident, coming weeks after a gang rape at South Calcutta Law College, has intensified scrutiny on campus safety in West Bengal.

Congress leader Asutosh Chatterjee, leading a protest of 100 members outside IIM Calcutta, criticized the institute’s security, questioning how such a crime could occur at a premier central institution. “Where was this security for women?” he demanded, holding the BJP-led central government accountable. CPI(M)’s Sujan Chakraborty called the incident “horrifying,” pointing to “increasing lawlessness” under the TMC government and security loopholes at IIM Calcutta.

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Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, a BJP leader, defended the campus’s “strict security” but promised to discuss the incident with the IIM director, urging a fair state police investigation. TMC’s Kunal Ghosh cautioned against politicizing the case, emphasizing that IIM Calcutta is a centrally-run institute and police are investigating thoroughly. “We must wait for the truth,” he said, dismissing attempts to link TMC to the incident.

Police are reviewing CCTV footage, questioning students, and investigating why the victim was not required to sign the mandatory visitors’ register. The incident, the third major sexual assault case in Kolkata’s educational institutions within a year, has sparked widespread demands for stronger safety measures. A tight security cordon now surrounds the campus, with enhanced visitor verification protocols in place.

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