IIM Calcutta student arrested for alleged rape inside boys' hostel; victim says drink was spiked

A second-year student of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman inside the boys’ hostel on campus, Kolkata Police confirmed on July 12. The incident, which occurred a day before has sparked fresh concerns about campus safety just weeks after a gang rape was reported at a city law college.

The accused has been identified as Parmanand Toppaunwar, a postgraduate student from Karnataka. According to investigators, Toppaunwar had invited the woman — a student from another institution — to the IIM campus for a “counseling session.”

Upon arrival, the woman told police, she was instructed by the accused not to enter her name in the visitors’ register at the campus gate — a request that initially raised her suspicion, but she proceeded nonetheless.

Police said instead of taking her to a counseling room, the accused allegedly led her to the boys’ hostel, claiming he had some work there. Inside the room, the woman said she was offered pizza and water, which she believes were laced with sedatives.

“She fell unconscious after consuming the food and alleged that she was sexually assaulted while unconscious,” a senior police officer said.

After regaining consciousness, the woman reportedly fled the hostel and contacted a friend. The two later approached police, who registered an FIR under Sections 64 (rape) and 123 (causing hurt by poison) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The accused was arrested on Friday and is expected to be produced before the Alipore court. Meanwhile, police have detained four other individuals suspected of having knowledge of or involvement in the incident. The role of the hostel security guard is also under scrutiny, and the hostel superintendent will be questioned, officers said.

CCTV footage is being examined, and forensic teams have collected samples from the hostel room, which remains sealed. An additional police force has been deployed around the campus to maintain order and assist the investigation.

The IIM-Calcutta administration has not issued an official statement yet. The incident has reignited debate around institutional accountability, visitor protocols, and safety infrastructure in premier academic institutions.