Bizman held after woman alleges rape at city hotel

Kolkata: Kolkata Police have arrested a 59-year-old businessman for allegedly raping a 21-year-old woman at a hotel located on Sarat Bose Road. The accused was presented before the court on Monday.According to police, the accused, identified as Kirti Kumar Mehta, a resident of a well-known apartment on Elgin Road, with diverse investments in financial institutions and surgical equipment, allegedly raped the victim on Mar 7 after luring her to the hotel under the pretence of helping her secure employment. The victim, a Delhi resident who works at a bar in Kolkata, approached Mehta seeking assistance in finding a new job."The accused took advantage of the victim's vulnerable situation and betrayed her trust," said a senior police officer, adding that the woman claimed her drink was spiked. The two had known each other, having met in a bar, said cops."The case has been recorded on the basis of a written letter of complaint from the 21-year-old victim, wherein she alleged that around 8 pm, Mehta raped her at the hotel and also threatened her with dire consequences if she told anyone about it," said DC (South) Priyobrata Roy.Based on the victim's complaint, police registered a case (No-50/25) under Section 64(1) (rape) of BNS. "We conducted a swift investigation and arrested the accused last night," said the investigating officer. The victim's confidential statement was recorded at a local court before a magistrate. Sources revealed that she knew the accused for some time before the incident.The accused has been remanded in police custody, and further investigation is underway. Police are examining footage of closed-circuit television cameras from the hotel and gathering additional evidence. Authorities have urged anyone with information related to the case to come forward and contact Bhowanipore police station.
Stay updated with the latest city news, weather, and Air Quality Index (AQI) updates for major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Noida, and Bengaluru on Times of India.