The rape incident of a female law student in Kolkata has once again created a rift between two Trinamool Congress leaders with party MP Kalyan Banerjee now responding to colleague Mahua Moitra's 'misogyny' barb at him.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Saturday said the probe in the rape incident is going on "war footing" and assured that her party condemns misogynistic comments no matter who makes them, referring to the remarks by Kalyan Banerjee and Madan Mitra.

She stressed that the TMC-led West Bengal government has "zero tolerance" for crime against women.

In a post on X, Mahua Moitra said: "College student’s rape investigation on war footing @KolkataPolice  identified & arrested all accused within 12 hrs, sent to 4 day custody. @AITCofficial & state govt has zero tolerance for crime against women - swiftest action taken in rape & POCSO cases. Unlike @BJP4India who glorify, garland & reward rapists & killers."

In another post, she said: "Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates
@AITCofficial  is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them."

Responding to Moitra's post with a direct attack, Banerjee on Sunday commented on her personal life and recent wedding.

"Mahua Moitra has come back to India after completing her honeymoon. And after coming back to India, she has started fighting with me. She is saying I am anti-women. What is she? She has broken up a family and married a 65-year-old guy. And she is saying I am anti-women," he told the media.

"She is against all women leaders of her constituency. She doesn't allow anyone to work. An MP expelled from Parliament for breach of ethics is preaching me," he added.

The TMC on Saturday distanced itself from the victim-blaming remarks made by Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a first-year law student at South Calcutta Law College.

What did Banerjee and Mitra say?

Kalyan Banerjee, speaking to the media on Saturday, appeared to downplay the role of law enforcement, saying, “Nothing will change until the mentality of people changes. The change can’t be brought through law or police.”

When asked about safety measures in educational institutions, he responded, “How can police be posted inside an education institution for security? Classmates, who should provide security inside the campus, are raping! Then who should be blamed?”

Madan Mitra, meanwhile, courted criticism after reportedly telling ANI, “This incident has sent a message to girls that if someone calls you when the college is closed offering you a position in the unit, then don't go, nothing good will come of it. If that girl had not gone there, this wouldn't have happened.”

What is the case?

A law student was allegedly raped on June 25 inside the South Calcutta Law College campus in Kolkata’s Kasba area.

The accused include Manojit Mishra, 31, a former leader of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad and now a practising lawyer, along with two students: Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20) and Zaib Ahmed (19). All of them have been arrested.

On Saturday, the police also arrested Pinaki Banerjee, a 55-year-old security guard at the college. CCTV footage allegedly showed him outside the guard’s room while the crime was taking place.

A preliminary medical report has noted abrasions on the victim’s neck and chest. While no external genital or oral injuries were detected, doctors have not ruled out sexual assault pending forensic confirmation, according to a report accessed by NDTV.

In response to mounting public anger, the Kolkata Police has constituted a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

Despite the gravity of the case and the involvement of a functionary with links to the ruling party, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has not commented on the matter so far.