CU probe to go back eight years to find law college skeletons
Times of India | 12 July 2025
Kolkata: Calcutta University's fact-finding team will examine eight-year-old anomalies at the law college in south Kolkata, where a first-year student was raped. They are also trying to find out how Zaib Ahmed, one of the accused, gained entry to the college despite securing a rank of 2,634 on the merit list. The college has submitted 500 pages of documents, including college record books and governing body resolutions, which will be scrutinised.
TOI had earlier reported about the role of law college authorities in allowing Monojit Mishra, the prime accused, to handle student affairs. A notice issued by the college authority, giving him free rein is also under scrutiny. All these things will be cross-checked with the college records. The committee will prepare a report based on which the university will take action against the college. Interim vice-chancellor Santa Datta De said, "The college has submitted all required documents which will be scrutinised by the fact-finding team, and a final report will be given to the university on which appropriate actions will be taken.
"Major complaints, including the appointment of Mishra as casual staffer, will be scrutinised following the governing body's resolution that the college has submitted to CU. A senior official said, "How many GB members approved this decision to appoint him as a casual staffer? If any member opposed this decision, the person should have given a note of dissent with an entry in the record book. Moreover, the constitution of GB and its functions will also be examined before preparing the final report.
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The governing body members, including the CU nominees, were there in the committee for years. Now, the university will examine their role and functions of GB and its members. The process of the committee formation will also be examined.
A major complaint alleging the sale of college seats in exchange for money is being scrutinised by the fact-finding team. A copy of CULET 2024's merit-wise list, where Zaib's rank was 2,634, went viral. He was admitted as a general candidate while law aspirants with better ranks failed to get admission. After the matter came to light, the CU fact-finding team decided to examine how this could have happened when admissions were entirely based on merit ranks.
Students who get good ranks typically get admission to the CU law department and four govt-aided colleges affiliated with CU. Those with lower ranks on the merit list usually get admission to private colleges where they have to pay lakhs per semester. An official said there might be other people involved who functioned behind the scenes with Mishra and his gang doing the groundwork. "All these things are under scrutiny because if a college wants to increase its seating capacity, they have to get permission from the Bar Council of India. How extra admissions were made can only be clarified if it is cross-checked with the college's admission record book," he added.