On March 11, 2025, the Calcutta High Court directed Murali Dhar Sharma, the Inspector General (IG) of State Police Academy (Training), to submit a report regarding allegations of physical harassment made by a leftist student leader at a women’s police station in West Medinipur district.
What is the Allegation?
The petitioner, Sucharita Das, filed a plea in court, claiming that:
- On March 3, she was taken to the women’s police station in Medinipur city after a protest outside Vidyasagar University.
- At the station, she faced physical harassment.
Court’s Order
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh instructed the senior IPS officer, Murali Dhar Sharma, to:
- Investigate the allegations.
- Review CCTV footage and all digital evidence available at the police station.
- Submit a report to the court by March 25.
The case will be heard again on March 26.
Background of the Incident
- On March 1, there were violent protests at Jadavpur University in Kolkata.
- Left-wing student unions called for a strike on March 5 in colleges and universities across West Bengal.
- The protest on March 1 happened when State Education Minister Bratya Basu visited the university for a meeting.
Further Instructions from the Court
- The officer-in-charge of the women’s police station must file an affidavit by April 9, addressing the allegations.
- The petitioner (Sucharita Das) must submit her affidavit by April 17.
State Government’s Response
West Bengal’s Advocate General, Kishore Dutta, denied the allegations, stating that:
- The police station has video recordings of Sucharita’s stay.
- She was not tortured, but was served food at the station.
The court will review all evidence before making a decision.
