In a disturbing incident that has sent fresh ripples of concern through Kolkata’s academic community, a second-year management student from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta’s Joka campus has been arrested on charges of allegedly raping a woman in the boys’ hostel.

The incident comes barely a fortnight after the shocking gang rape case at South Calcutta Law College, drawing stark comparisons and raising renewed questions about campus safety and accountability.

Allegations of Drugging and Assault

The arrested student has been identified as Parmanand Jain. The victim, who is a student from another college, had reportedly been called to the hostel on Friday under the pretext of a counseling session. According to the complaint filed at Haridevpur Police Station, upon her arrival at the accused’s hostel room, Jain allegedly prevented her from registering in the visitor’s book, which is a mandatory procedure for guests. He is then accused of spiking her drink, causing her to lose consciousness.

The woman alleges that she was raped while unconscious and was further assaulted when she regained consciousness. A complaint was promptly filed, detailing the harrowing ordeal.

Police Action and Investigation

Haridevpur Police swiftly launched an investigation after the victim filed her complaint, leading to the arrest of Parmanand Jain, a second-year student at IIM-Calcutta. The police have initiated a full-scale probe into the matter, with the accused currently in custody. Investigators are reportedly examining the circumstances that allowed a visitor to be taken into a hostel room without proper registration and are questioning the accused as part of their investigation.

Echoes of the South Calcutta Law College Incident

This alarming incident at a premier institution has intensified the ongoing debate surrounding campus safety, especially in the wake of the recent gang rape at South Calcutta Law College on June 25. The South Calcutta case, which involved a first-year student allegedly being assaulted by three men including an alumnus and a college security guard, had already sparked widespread outrage and protests across the state.

Recent updates on that case show that all four accused have been sent to 14 days of judicial custody by the Alipore Court. The victim, in a statement to the Calcutta High Court, has expressed satisfaction with the police investigation so far. The college, which had been closed due to the protests, reopened on July 7, 2025, under heavy police security and with curtailed operating hours. The swift succession of these two high-profile cases has put college and university administrations under immense scrutiny regarding their security protocols and accountability.

As investigations continue in both cases, the demand for stricter measures and greater accountability in educational institutions across Kolkata and the state is growing louder, with many questioning how such crimes can take place on what are meant to be secure campuses.