Why Did the Police Rush the Charge Sheet in the Durgapur Gang-Rape Case?
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Synopsis
In a gripping courtroom drama surrounding the Durgapur gang-rape case, the victim's classmate's lawyer raises serious concerns about the expedited charge sheet filing by police. As the trial unfolds, questions of evidence integrity and procedural hastiness take center stage, revealing a complex web of legal challenges and societal pressures.
Key Takeaways
- Urgency of charge sheet filing raises questions about evidence integrity.
- Defense attorney demands detailed disclosures from the prosecution.
- CCTV and electronic evidence claimed to be incomplete.
- Next court hearing set for Tuesday.
- Legal representation for the accused ensured by district legal aid.
Kolkata, Nov 3 (NationPress) On the second day of the trial concerning the Durgapur gang-rape case, the attorney representing the victim's classmate, who has been arrested, challenged the rushed submission of the charge sheet by law enforcement.
He additionally requested details about the 'chat' exchanges between his client and the victim.
After the police submitted the charge sheet within 20 days of the incident, the case was transferred from the Durgapur Subdivision Court to the Additional District and Sessions Court.
During the hearing that commenced on Monday, the lawyer, Shekhar Kundu, questioned the urgency behind filing the charge sheet in this case.
He also demanded access to the CCTV recordings from the police station following his client's arrest.
Furthermore, he sought footage from the Test Identification (TI) parade process.
"The electronic evidence provided has numerous missing segments. The complete data must be supplied," the lawyer asserted in court.
He implored the court to supply these documents, referencing similar cases from other states.
Shekhar also urged for a detailed disclosure of phone and chat interactions between the victim and her classmate prior to the incident.
He alleged, "The police hastily filed the charge sheet under media and political duress."
In reply, Special Public Prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee stated, "We have provided everything requested in line with the decisions from two separate cases. There’s no indication of the legal basis for the accused's attorney’s requests. The CCTV footage has been delivered. We do not consider the TI parade recordings reliable, hence they were not provided. Instead, we supplied hard copies."
The Public Prosecutor elaborated that the mobile tower data was acquired from the telecom provider and shared with the classmate's lawyer.
"We do not regard the CCTV footage from Durgapur, New Township, and Bijan Outpost as credible for our investigation," Bivas remarked.
He noted: "The charge sheet is incomplete. An additional charge sheet can be filed within 90 days of the primary submission, pending several documents."
Meanwhile, the court has ordered the accused to remain in judicial custody for another day.
The judge indicated that the accused will receive representation from district legal aid until a personal lawyer is secured.
The next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
On October 10, a second-year medical student from Odisha was reportedly gang-raped by five individuals in a forested area adjacent to a private medical college and hospital located in West Burdwan district's Durgapur, West Bengal.
In response to the complaint filed by the victim, the police apprehended all five suspects involved in the case.
Authorities stated that only one individual was responsible for the physical assault of the medical student.
The police later took into custody the victim's classmate, who was also her boyfriend, after inconsistencies were detected in his statements during questioning.
On October 30, law enforcement submitted a charge sheet to the Durgapur Sub-divisional Court regarding the gang-rape case.
The charge sheet was filed just 20 days following the incident and includes allegations of rape against the medical student's classmate-boyfriend.
Additionally, the charge sheet encompasses charges of gang-rape against three other suspects and extortion against the remaining two.
Point of View
I believe it is crucial to uphold the principles of justice and transparency in cases as sensitive as this one. The concerns raised by the defense lawyer about the expedited charge sheet highlight the need for a thorough investigation devoid of external pressures. We must ensure that every legal procedure is meticulously followed to maintain public trust in our judicial system.
NationPress
26/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Durgapur gang-rape case?
The Durgapur gang-rape case involves the alleged gang-rape of a second-year medical student from Odisha by five individuals, occurring on October 10, 2023, in a forested area near a private medical college in West Burdwan, West Bengal.
Why is the charge sheet submission being questioned?
The charge sheet's hasty submission, just 20 days after the incident, has raised concerns about the integrity of the evidence and the potential influence of media and political pressure on the investigation.
What are the main allegations in the charge sheet?
The charge sheet includes allegations of rape against the victim's classmate-cum-boyfriend, gang-rape against three other accused, and extortion charges against two additional suspects.
What actions have been taken by the court?
The court has ordered that the accused remain in judicial custody and has set the next hearing for Tuesday, while also ensuring that the accused are represented by district legal aid until they secure a private lawyer.
How has the police responded to the defense's claims?
The police have maintained that they provided all necessary evidence as per legal requirements and have indicated that the charge sheet is not yet complete, allowing for an additional submission within 90 days.
