IPL cricketer Abhishek Porel arrested in Hooghly over rape allegations

Kolkata: Bengal cricketer Abhishek Porel, who has played for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), was arrested late Monday night by Mogra police in Hooghly district in connection with allegations of rape filed by a woman medical student. The arrest was made pursuant to a court order, officials said.

Hooghly (Rural) Superintendent of Police Kumar Bhushan Singh confirmed the development, stating that a case had been registered against Porel and that a judicial directive led to his apprehension. "He was arrested late last night and will be produced in court today," Singh told PTI.

The case originates from a complaint lodged on June 23 by a woman from Karnataka. She alleged that she and Porel had been in a relationship for around three-and-a-half years and that he had promised to marry her. Based on her complaint, police registered an FIR under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 69, along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.

Section 69 of the BNS, which replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code in 2024, criminalises sexual intercourse by deceitful means, such as a false promise of marriage. The IT Act provisions are typically invoked in cases involving electronic communication or digital records that may serve as evidence. The exact nature of the evidence has not been disclosed.

Following the complaint, police launched an investigation. Sources said that officers visited Porel's residence in Chandannagar, a town in Hooghly district, on multiple occasions but did not find him there. It remains unclear where Porel had been staying prior to his arrest. Police have not elaborated on the circumstances, stating only that the arrest was carried out in line with the law.

The police investigation is ongoing, and further evidence might be collected as part of the inquiry. The court will consider the material presented by both sides before deciding on the validity of the allegations. In recent years, courts have taken a strict view of cases involving promises of marriage, stressing that consent given under such a promise may be vitiated if the promise was made without intention to fulfil it.

Porel, a wicketkeeper-batter, has represented Bengal in domestic cricket and featured for Delhi Capitals in the IPL. He is considered a promising talent, and the legal case has cast a shadow over his career, though no official action has been taken by cricket authorities. The sport's governing bodies typically wait for the legal process to unfold unless there is a specific code of conduct issue.

The cricketer is expected to be produced before a magistrate in Chinsurah on Tuesday. At that stage, the court will decide on matters such as remand or bail, based on the case presented by the prosecution and the defence. Porel is entitled to legal representation and has the right to respond to the allegations.

Reactions from Porel and his family were not available at the time of this report. The complainant's identity has been protected, as is standard in such cases, and her legal rights are also ensured.

It is important to note that an arrest is not a finding of guilt. Under Indian law, the presumption of innocence remains until a court concludes otherwise. Both parties will have the opportunity to present their sides, and the judicial process will proceed according to the law.