Kolkata is witnessing a grim irony as Monojit Mishra, once a vocal protester demanding capital punishment for rapists, now finds himself in the middle of a chilling rape case on a law college campus. The young lawyer, who had shared a video demanding “noose for rapists” after the 2023 RG Kar Hospital rape-murder, is now the prime accused in a case that has sparked anger, questions over law and order, and discomfort for the ruling Trinamool Congress, with which Monojit Mishra was once closely associated.
Monojit Mishra’s August 16 post last year had featured West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leading a protest march seeking justice for the RG Kar Hospital victim. In the post, he had described Ms Banerjee as “Agnikanya,” or the fiery daughter, and called for the rapist to be hanged. At that time, the heinous RG Kar case had led to nationwide outrage, and the accused Sanjay Roy was convicted to life imprisonment in January this year. Monojit Mishra’s post echoed the widespread demand for swift justice, but less than a year later, the narrative has flipped, with calls for Monojit Mishra himself to face strict action for a rape on a law college campus where he was working.
Accused Once Feared on Campus
Monojit Mishra, an alumnus of the law college in Kolkata, had led the Trinamool Congress student unit on campus before it was dissolved and was working there as a contractual staff member. Students allege he projected himself as being close to top leaders of the Trinamool Congress, creating an atmosphere of fear among teachers and students alike. While the Trinamool has now distanced itself from Monojit Mishra following his arrest, the opposition has raised sharp questions about the law-and-order situation in West Bengal and the alleged impunity enjoyed by those claiming proximity to the ruling party.
The current case, coming amid existing tensions over women’s safety in the state, has put the administration under fresh scrutiny. While the Trinamool government claims the swift arrest of the accused shows their commitment to justice, critics argue that political protection often emboldens individuals like Monojit Mishra until crimes reach a tipping point that forces police action.
A String of Past Allegations
The police have taken Monojit Mishra, along with co-accused Pramit Mukhopadhyay and Jaib Ahmed, into custody. All three have been expelled from the college and are set to be produced in court. The charges against Monojit Mishra are not limited to the current case. His past reflects a troubling pattern of allegations: in July 2019, he was accused of ripping off a woman student’s dress at South Calcutta Law College; in December 2019, he allegedly stole a music system, perfume, and spectacles from a friend’s home; in March 2022, he was accused of molesting a woman on Swinhoe Lane; and in April 2017, he was arrested for assaulting a man. More recently, in May 2024, he was accused of beating up a college guard and damaging college property.
Despite these multiple complaints, Monojit Mishra managed to secure bail and continue his activities, which many see as a failure of the system to address repeated allegations of violence and misconduct seriously. The perception that he was shielded due to political links has intensified the outrage now that he is accused in a rape case on a campus that should have been a safe space for students.
The latest developments come at a time when West Bengal is grappling with broader debates on women’s safety and accountability in institutions. The case has triggered a wave of anger, with people sharing Monojit Mishra ’s old post demanding a “noose for the rapist” and calling out the hypocrisy of his past stance in light of the current accusations against him.
