Kolkata, Aug 11: Bengal cricketer and Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel was arrested by West Bengal Police on Tuesday in connection with a rape case filed by a medical student, officials said.Porel was taken into custody in Hooghly and subsequently placed under formal arrest after questioning, according to police. He was later taken for a medical examination and produced before a court in Chinsurah.
The case follows a complaint lodged at Mogra Police Station by a woman who has alleged that Porel entered into a physical relationship with her on the assurance of marriage.The complaint also contains allegations of criminal intimidation and the alleged recording of private moments. The allegations have not been established in court and remain subject to investigation.
The development follows an order by the Calcutta High Court directing the police to continue efforts to apprehend Porel and another accused in the case.In its July 14 order, the court also directed authorities to seize electronic devices that could be connected with the alleged circulation of private material involving the complainant. Police had informed the court that a pen drive had already been seized and sent for forensic examination.
The complainant had approached the High Court alleging police inaction and expressing concern that private photographs could allegedly be made public.According to the complaint, the woman met Porel in 2023 and their relationship later progressed to discussions about marriage involving their families.She has also alleged that she was assaulted and confined during an incident in Delhi on April 2, 2026, and that she was subsequently denied food and required medical attention.
These claims are part of the complaint and have not been proven.Porel has denied the allegations and has indicated that he would respond to them in detail during the police investigation.The arrest is a major development in the case involving the young cricketer, who has established himself in Bengal cricket and has represented the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.Porel made his first-class debut for Bengal during the 2021-22 season and later received India A call-ups.
He joined the Delhi Capitals setup in 2023 and has remained part of the franchise’s IPL squad.The investigation will now determine the evidence available in the case and the next course of legal proceedings.Porel remains an accused in the case, and the allegations against him have not been judicially established. Any determination of guilt will be made through due process of law.
