TMC leader arrested for alleged rape after taking 5 lakhs under job pretext; Court orders protection for victim

A significant case of alleged rape and extortion has come to light in Cooch Behar, involving a prominent Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, Abdul Mannan, who was arrested after a young woman accused him of taking 5 lakhs under the false promise of providing her with a job. The victim claims that Mannan took the money with the assurance of securing employment for her. However, when the job was not offered, the woman’s family started demanding the money back, only to face evasions from the TMC leader.

The victim's allegations have become more serious as she claims that Mannan, on March 14, told her she had a job interview and personally arrived at her house to take her to a supposed location. Instead, she alleges that he took her to a secluded house where he sexually assaulted her. The victim also claims that Mannan recorded the incident, threatening to release the videos and images if she reported him. Moreover, the victim says that Mannan tried to force her to drink alcohol, and when she refused, he allegedly struck her with a bottle.

The victim was later rescued by nearby residents who heard her screams during the assault. Following the attack, the victim’s father filed a police complaint, accusing Mannan of both rape and extortion. The accused TMC leader, Abdul Mannan, voluntarily surrendered to the police after the case was filed. He, however, denies the allegations, claiming that he has been falsely implicated by the victim’s family.

In the aftermath of the arrest, the victim’s family has reported ongoing threats and harassment, allegedly from the accused’s supporters. The victim’s safety has become a primary concern, with constant intimidation directed at her and her family. As a result, the victim approached the Kolkata High Court, seeking protection from the police. On Wednesday, Justice Amrita Sinha issued a directive to the Cooch Behar police to provide immediate protection to the victim to ensure her physical and mental safety.

The High Court also intervened in the matter of the counter-complaint filed by the family of the accused. It instructed the police not to take any further action on the counter-FIR until further orders from the court. The case is now being closely monitored by the legal authorities as both the investigation into the rape and the allegations of political influence unfold.