Santipur rape case: Two arrested in Nadia for assault under job pretext
Synopsis
A survivor in Santipur, Nadia, broke months of silence after being allegedly raped and blackmailed by two men who used a fake job offer as a trap. Police arrested both accused within 12 hours of receiving the complaint — a response time that stands out in a case where digital threats kept the victim silent for weeks.
Key Takeaways
Two men — Shekhar Biswas and Manik Debnath — were arrested on 21 July in Santipur, Nadia district , West Bengal.
The survivor, a divorced woman, was allegedly lured with a false promise of employment before being raped on multiple occasions.
Both accused allegedly recorded videos and photographs and threatened to circulate them on social media if she spoke out; death threats were also made.
Nadia district police arrested both accused within 12 hours of receiving the formal complaint.
The accused are to be produced before a court on 22 July ; police plan to seek custody for further interrogation.
Police in Santipur, Nadia district, West Bengal, arrested two men on Tuesday, 21 July for allegedly raping a divorced woman after luring her with a false promise of employment. The accused were taken into custody within 12 hours of the survivor filing her complaint at Santipur police station, according to district police officials.
How the Alleged Crime Unfolded
The survivor, a resident of Shantipur in Nadia, had reached out to Shekhar Biswas, a resident of Babla-Gobindpur Dakshin Kayasthapara, seeking work. Biswas allegedly introduced her to Manik Debnath, the owner of a local wardrobe factory, under the guise of arranging employment. Biswas then reportedly called the woman to various locations on the pretext of job-related meetings, before allegedly taking her to a hotel where he raped her on multiple occasions.
Debnath is separately alleged to have committed the same crime under similar circumstances. Both accused reportedly recorded videos and photographs of the incidents, which they used to threaten and silence the survivor. The threats included warnings to circulate the material on social media and, according to the complaint, explicit death threats.
Survivor Breaks Silence, Triggers Swift Arrest
The survivor had reportedly remained silent for an extended period due to fear of the threats. On Monday, 20 July, she overcame that fear and approached Santipur police station with a formal complaint. Police launched an investigation immediately and arrested both accused within 12 hours. The two men are scheduled to be produced before a court on Wednesday, 22 July.
The survivor has publicly demanded the strictest punishment for the accused.
What the Police Said
A senior officer of Nadia district police confirmed the arrests and said: 'Two persons have been arrested based on the complaint lodged by the woman. A case under relevant sections has been registered against the two. They will be produced in a court tomorrow. The police will seek their custody for further interrogation in the matter. Investigation is on.'
Context and What Comes Next
This case highlights a recurring pattern in which employment vulnerability — particularly among women in economically distressed circumstances — is exploited to facilitate assault and subsequent blackmail. The use of recorded material as a coercive tool adds a layer of digital abuse to the physical crime, a combination that courts across India have increasingly treated as an aggravating factor in sentencing. Investigators are expected to seek police custody of both accused to establish the full timeline and recover the alleged digital evidence. The case is being monitored by Nadia district police command.
Point of View
And stands in sharp contrast to cases elsewhere where institutional delay has compounded the survivor's trauma. The harder question is systemic: how many women in similar circumstances remain silent because the threat of leaked material feels more immediate than the promise of justice? Digital evidence laws and support mechanisms for survivors need to keep pace with the growing weaponisation of recorded content in such crimes.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Santipur rape case in Nadia?
Two men allegedly raped a divorced woman in Santipur, Nadia district, after luring her with a false promise of employment. Both accused also reportedly threatened to leak videos and photographs of the assault if she reported the crime, and allegedly issued death threats to silence her.
Who are the accused arrested in the Santipur case?
The two arrested are Shekhar Biswas, a resident of Babla-Gobindpur Dakshin Kayasthapara, and Manik Debnath, the owner of a local wardrobe factory in the area. Both were arrested by Nadia district police on 21 July.
How quickly did police act after the complaint was filed?
Santipur police arrested both accused within 12 hours of receiving the survivor's complaint on Monday, 20 July. A senior Nadia district police officer confirmed that a case has been registered and the accused will be produced in court on 22 July.
Why did the survivor wait before reporting the crime?
According to the complaint, the survivor was threatened with the circulation of compromising videos and photographs on social media, as well as with death. She reportedly remained silent for an extended period due to these threats before approaching Santipur police station.
What charges have been filed and what happens next?
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law against both accused. They are scheduled to appear before a court on 22 July, and police intend to seek their custody for further interrogation as the investigation continues.
