BJP fact-finding team seeks independent probe into Kolkata law student rape case

A fact-finding team of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (July 8, 2025) submitted its report to party president J.P. Nadda regarding the alleged gang-rape of a law college student in Kolkata, recommending an independent inquiry into the incident.

The four-member team was constituted by Mr. Nadda last month following reports of the alleged incident on June 25. The delegation comprised former Union Ministers Satya Pal Singh and Meenakshi Lekhi, Rajya Sabha MP and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, and senior advocate and MP Manan Kumar Mishra.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Singh said the team had met the Kolkata Police Commissioner during its visit. He raised concerns over the registration of the case and the subsequent investigation by the local police, who have arrested four persons in connection with the incident.

Alleging procedural irregularities, Mr. Singh said, “I have served in the police force for about 35 years… this is the first time I have seen the names of accused persons erased. When the police tamper with the complaint itself, the basic document in the case, how can we expect that the victim and her family will get justice?”

He claimed that the complaint written by the survivor had named individuals whose names were later removed from the record.

The BJP leader further alleged that one of the staffers accused in the case had close ties to the ruling Trinamool Congress and had previously been booked in 11 criminal cases. “Law and order has totally collapsed in West Bengal,” he said.

Mr. Deb demanded that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee take moral responsibility and resign in light of the incident.

Mr. Mishra, who also serves as the Chairman of the Bar Council of India, said the fact-finding team had urged the BJP leadership to request the Central government to initiate an impartial probe.

The report was formally handed over to Mr. Nadda upon the team’s return to New Delhi.