Should the Calcutta HC Ensure Protection for the Woman Allegedly Assaulted by a Trinamool Leader?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Calcutta High Court prioritizes victim protection.
- Allegations involve a local Trinamool Congress leader.
- The victim reported receiving threats after filing the complaint.
- The court's ruling reflects the legal system's role in safeguarding victims.
- Counter FIRs complicate the pursuit of justice.
Kolkata, May 2 (NationPress) The Calcutta High Court's Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench has ordered the police in West Bengal's Cooch Behar to provide complete protection to a woman who has allegedly been raped by a local Trinamool Congress leader. The bench, presided over by Justice Amrita Sinha, has instructed the district police to refrain from taking any coercive action against the woman based on the first information report (FIR) filed against her by relatives of the accused leader.
According to case details, the accused is the area president of the Trinamool party. He allegedly took Rs 5 lakh from the victim under the pretense of securing her a position at a state-run school.
After failing to receive the promised job, the woman pressured the accused for a refund. In her complaint, she stated that the accused invited her to a location under the guise of a job interview.
Upon arrival, she claims the leader physically assaulted and raped her. Additionally, she alleges that he recorded explicit images of her and threatened to disseminate them on social media if she disclosed either the money transaction or the assault.
Following this incident, she lodged a complaint at the Dinhata police station in Cooch Behar, leading to the arrest of the accused. However, shortly thereafter, the accused's family filed a counter FIR against her, accusing her of blackmail.
The victim reported receiving threatening calls demanding that she withdraw her complaint against the accused leader. Subsequently, she sought protection from the Calcutta High Court’s Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench and received relief from Justice Sinha.