IIM Calcutta Allows Rape Accused Student to Resume Classes, Restricts Hostel Access

This decision was reached following an emergency meeting of the institute's academic council held last week. The meeting was convened after Toppannawar, accompanied by his mother, submitted both his bail documents and a formal request to resume academic activities.

Toppannawar had been arrested after a woman, who introduced herself as a consultant but was not affiliated with the institute, accused him of raping her in the IIM-C hostel room on July 11, alleging that he had laced her drink with a sedative prior to assaulting her. The incident took place when the woman reportedly visited the campus for counselling, according to the complaint. Toppannawar was subsequently arrested from his hostel but granted bail by a local court on July 19, after spending over a week in judicial custody.

While the academic council concluded that Toppannawar could not be denied access to classes unless convicted by a court of law, they also decided to impose certain restrictions. He will not be permitted to return to, or reside in, the hostel premises for the foreseeable future, especially as the investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kolkata Police remains ongoing. However, he will have access to campus libraries and academic facilities as required for his studies.

A senior IIM-Calcutta official clarified that these conditions attempt to balance the due process of law with the rights and safety of all stakeholders on campus. The council also deferred its decision regarding whether Toppannawar would be entitled to compensatory attendance for the classes he missed between July 12 and July 22, during his incarceration.

Meanwhile, the case itself has produced some controversy and complexity. While the complainant failed to appear to assist the police investigation after initially filing the FIR, her family has subsequently alleged that she was pressured into making the accusations, and disputed that any incident occurred on July 11. Despite ongoing debates and public scrutiny, both police and campus officials maintain they are following proper protocols with respect to both the legal and student disciplinary aspects of the case.

With Toppannawar set to attend classes for the final eight months of his two-year program, questions continue to swirl over campus policy and broader issues of institutional responsibility and due process. The academic council, however, has maintained that only a conviction—not just a charge—should impede a student's academic progress, all while keeping measures in place to safeguard the interests of the larger student community. The story remains under close watch, as both internal review and legal proceedings continue to unfold.