Kamal Ghorui
KOLKATA: Cops added rape charge against social media influencer Shamik Adhikary, arrested from Dum Dum on Friday, based on the statement of his 22-year-old friend. He was sent to police custody till Feb 16 after being produced in court on Friday.Police arrested Adhikary, 25, in connection with allegations of wrongful confinement, assault and sexual offences against a woman who identified him as her friend. In the court, the state argued that several marks of injury on her were serious. They further stated that the survivor was traumatised, for which she took some time to inform the police.The defence claimed that they were old friends and knew each other for a long time. He stated that while there was a misunderstanding between the two that night, there was no attempt by the accused to force himself on the woman. The defence also questioned why the police were seeking remand when there was nothing for them to probe.The police said they had completed a medico-legal examination of the complainant on Thursday at the MR Bangur Hospital. Police also said the complainant later submitted a further complaint at Behala Police Station on Feb 5, alleging that the accused also committed penetrative sexual assault on Feb 3 without her consent. A lady officer recorded the woman’s statement, and Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was added to the case, police said.The police informed the court that during investigation, the accused stated he had pictures of the woman in compromising condition, using which he reportedly threatened the survivor during the crime.“The preliminary investigation has confirmed of the victim’s presence at the place of occurence during the period mentioned in her complaint. The accused’s presence has been verified using phone tower location,” an investigating officer said on Friday. DCP (Behala-SWD) Rahul De said: “The FIR was drawn up on Wednesday. On Thursday, we recorded the woman’s statement. Based on that, the section of rape has been added.“
