Calcutta HC refuses West Bengal cricketer’s early hearing plea

The Calcutta High Court on Monday refused a prayer by arrested Bengal cricketer Abhishek Porel for an expedited hearing of a petition by a woman alleging that he had sexual relations with her on the promise of marriage.

Porel’s lawyer, Mayukh Mukherjee, sought an early hearing, stating that the cricketer had been in custody since August 11, his electronic devices had been seized, and the chargesheet had already been filed before the trial court.

The petition is currently scheduled to be heard on September 14.

Mukherjee submitted that Porel’s bail plea had been rejected by the trial court as the alleged victim’s petition was pending before the High Court.

He also said the selection process for the Bengal team was scheduled to begin soon.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, however, refused to advance the hearing, observing that the allegations were serious in nature.

Porel’s lawyer said the high court had earlier directed the cricketer’s arrest and seizure of devices on which objectionable data could have been stored.

The high court had ordered police to arrest Porel and seize his electronic devices to prevent the dissemination of photographs of the complainant. Porel, who has played for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, was arrested by police in Hooghly district following a complaint by a medical student alleging that he had sexual relations with her on the promise of marriage. He is currently in judicial remand.