At a well-known law college in Kolkata, a wall bears the graffiti, “Monojit dada, always with us (Team MM).” This refers to Monojit Mishra, the primary suspect in a disturbing on-campus rape case. Once a towering figure at the institution, Monojit’s dominance persisted even after he graduated.
Records indicate that Monojit headed the college’s branch of the Trinamool College Chhatra Parishad, the student arm of West Bengal’s governing party, beginning in 2017. In the wake of public fury over the rape allegations, the Trinamool party has disavowed any connection to him, insisting he face stringent punishment.
Fellow students describe Monojit, known as “Mango” among friends, as a formidable presence, with even faculty and staff wary of crossing him. Reports suggest he had been accused of harassment and molestation multiple times before, but no disciplinary measures were enforced.
A Priest’s Wayward Son
Monojit’s father, Robin Mishra, is a priest at Kalighat, and his mother grapples with neurological health issues. Robin has publicly stated that he toiled to give Monojit a solid education but severed contact due to his son’s political activities and frequent altercations. Living separately, Monojit only visited his father’s residence to collect documents. Local residents recall Monojit, also called Papai, as a disruptive figure, often embroiled in alcohol-fueled disputes. Some accounts mention a lawyer girlfriend who frequently visited him.
Ascent to Campus Dominance
Starting at the Kolkata law college in 2007, Monojit initially showed promise as a law student. By 2011, when the Trinamool party gained control in West Bengal, he became deeply involved in campus politics. He left the program before graduating but returned in 2017, completing his degree in 2022. Although he identified as a “criminal lawyer,” his father remarked that Monojit spent more time on campus than in legal practice.
In 2017, Monojit was reportedly linked to an act of vandalism in the principal’s office, leading the Trinamool to dismantle the college’s student unit. Officially, he no longer held a leadership role, but with student elections halted since 2017, Monojit maintained his influence, backed by a devoted group of supporters. In a surprising move, he joined the college as a part-time clerical worker in 2023, earning a modest daily wage of Rs 500. This decision likely reflected his attachment to the power and following he commanded on campus.
A Record of Misbehavior
Per The Times of India, Monojit often approached female students with the line, “Will you be my wife?” He allegedly used this phrase when first contacting the 24-year-old rape survivor. Students reported to the newspaper that Monojit took photos of women on campus, altered them inappropriately, and shared them in WhatsApp chats, where he and his group ridiculed and body-shamed their targets.
Some students were so intimidated that they avoided campus altogether. After a widely publicized rape-murder at a Kolkata hospital last year, Monojit allegedly challenged and physically attacked students who joined related protests, claiming his ties to high-ranking leaders ensured his immunity.
The Horrendous Incident
The survivor alleges that on June 25, Monojit and two others, Pramit Mukherjee and Zaib Ahmed, called her to the college’s union room around 7 p.m. This raises serious questions about campus oversight, as classes end by 5 p.m., and the premises should be secured thereafter. A security guard is said to have assisted the accused.
According to the survivor’s complaint, Monojit pressured her to demonstrate loyalty to the Trinamool student wing. When she sensed trouble and tried to leave, she was forcibly taken to another room and assaulted. The perpetrators recorded the attack and threatened her to remain silent. Authorities have stated that campus CCTV footage aligns with her account, showing her being coerced into the room. Four individuals, including the guard, have been detained in connection with the case.
