Calcutta HC orders Baruipur Police affidavit on Pravas Mondal encounter
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has put Baruipur Police on notice, demanding a sworn affidavit on the encounter killing of rape-murder accused Pravas Mondal by 17 August. With the petitioner calling the police version 'completely fabricated' and the CID already involved, the case is shaping up as a significant test of judicial oversight over alleged custodial encounters in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
A Calcutta High Court division bench on 31 July ordered Baruipur Police to submit an affidavit on the Pravas Mondal encounter by 17 August .
Pravas Mondal , one of four accused in a Baruipur minor rape and murder case, was killed in a police encounter on 7 July .
Police claim Mondal snatched a service revolver at the crime reconstruction site and fired at officers, who retaliated in self-defence.
Petitioner's counsel Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya called the police account 'completely fabricated' and demanded a judicial probe.
The state confirmed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is supervising the ongoing investigation.
The bench is led by Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee .
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 31 July directed Baruipur Police in South 24 Parganas district to submit a detailed affidavit explaining the circumstances of the encounter killing of Pravas Mondal, one of four accused in a minor rape and murder case in Baruipur. The next date of hearing has been set for 17 August.
Background: The Encounter
Pravas Mondal was killed in a police encounter in the early hours of 7 July. According to the police, Mondal had been taken to the crime scene for a reconstruction of events when he allegedly snatched a police officer's service revolver, attempted to flee, and opened fire. Police say they retaliated in self-defence, fatally injuring Mondal. He was subsequently taken to a local hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The police have filed a suo motu complaint and the matter is currently under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Court's Order
The division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee, took up the matter after a petition was filed challenging both the encounter and the police's account of it. The bench directed Baruipur Police to place a comprehensive report on record in affidavit form before the next hearing on 17 August.
Petitioner's Challenge
Arguing for the petitioner, advocate and former Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha member Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya contested the police version sharply. He argued that the claim of the accused snatching a service revolver was implausible given standard police protocol. 'The police claimed that the accused tried to escape after snatching the firearm of a police officer. This would not have been possible had the police been alert. This claim by the police seems to be completely fabricated. I demand a judicial investigation into this incident,' Bhattacharya said in court.
State's Counter-Argument
The state's Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar defended the police account, stating that Mondal was taken to the crime site for recreation between the night of 7 July and the morning of 8 July, at which point he snatched a service revolver and fired at police. Majumdar confirmed that the CID is supervising the ongoing investigation and that a suo motu complaint has already been registered.
What Happens Next
The Calcutta High Court will take up the matter again on 17 August, by which date Baruipur Police must file the court-mandated affidavit. The judicial scrutiny adds institutional pressure to an encounter that has already drawn significant public and legal challenge. How the CID investigation proceeds alongside the court's oversight will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
Point of View
And this case is a reminder of why judicial oversight matters. The Calcutta High Court's demand for a sworn affidavit — rather than a routine report — signals that the bench is not treating this as a procedural formality. The petitioner's argument is pointed: if standard police protocols were followed, a detainee in custody could not have seized a service weapon. That question alone warrants independent scrutiny. The CID's parallel investigation, conducted by a state agency under the same government, may not be sufficient to resolve credibility concerns — which is precisely why the High Court's continued involvement is significant.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Calcutta High Court sought a report from Baruipur Police?
The Calcutta High Court directed Baruipur Police to file a detailed affidavit after a petition challenged the encounter killing of Pravas Mondal, an accused in a Baruipur minor rape and murder case. The court wants the police to formally explain the circumstances of the encounter on 7 July.
Who is Pravas Mondal and what was he accused of?
Pravas Mondal was one of four individuals accused in a minor rape and murder case in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas. He was killed in a police encounter on 7 July during what police described as a crime-site reconstruction.
What is the police's version of the Pravas Mondal encounter?
Police claim that Mondal snatched a service revolver from an officer during a crime-scene visit between the night of 7 July and the morning of 8 July, fired at police, and was fatally shot in the retaliatory fire. He was taken to a local hospital and declared dead. A suo motu complaint has been filed.
Why is the petitioner challenging the police encounter?
Advocate Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, arguing for the petitioner, contended that the police account is implausible — arguing that a properly alert police team could not have allowed a detainee to snatch a service weapon. He has called the version 'completely fabricated' and demanded a judicial investigation.
When will the Calcutta High Court hear the matter next?
The next date of hearing is 17 August, by which Baruipur Police must submit the court-directed affidavit. The bench of Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee will then examine the police's account.
