Calcutta HC Orders Immediate Arrest of DC's Abhishek Porel in Alleged Rape Case Ahead of IPL 2027
The Calcutta High Court has ordered the immediate arrest of Delhi Capitals cricketer Abhishek Porel in an alleged rape case. Here's everything known so far, including the FIR allegations, court directions, and the next hearing.
July 21, 2026: The Calcutta High Court has ordered the immediate arrest of Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper-batter Abhishek Porel in connection with an alleged rape case. The court also directed the police to seize all electronic devices, including storage devices, belonging to the accused to protect the complainant's privacy and prevent the alleged circulation of intimate photos and videos. The order was passed by Justice Saugata Bhattacharya, who instructed the investigating officers to take immediate action in the matter. No lawyer appeared on behalf of the accused during the hearing.
The case is based on a complaint filed at Mogra Police Station in Hooghly district, West Bengal. According to the complaint, Porel allegedly entered into a physical relationship with a woman on the false promise of marriage. The complainant, who is reported to be a medical student, has accused the cricketer of rape, assault, criminal intimidation, and threatening to leak her private photos and videos. She further alleged that intimate photographs and videos were secretly taken during their relationship and were later used to threaten and blackmail her. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under non-bailable sections, following which the matter reached the Calcutta High Court.
The High Court observed that the alleged intimate photos and videos could still be stored on the accused's electronic devices. To prevent any further circulation of the material, the court directed the investigating officers to immediately recover and seize all electronic devices linked to the accused. The court also instructed the police to ensure that the alleged content is secured as evidence while protecting the complainant's identity and privacy throughout the investigation.
The Calcutta High Court has directed police to arrest Delhi Capitals cricketer Abishek Porel in a rape case and seize his electronic devices to prevent the alleged circulation of sensitive material.
— TOI Sports (@toisports) July 21, 2026
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What the Complaint Alleges and Where the Investigation Stands
According to the police, the complainant alleged that she and Abhishek Porel were in a relationship for nearly three years and had planned to get married. She claimed that problems began to arise between them around one-and-a-half years ago. Although the matter had reportedly come to the attention of the police earlier, no formal complaint was filed at that time. The woman later approached the police with detailed allegations, following which an FIR was registered.
The FIR includes allegations of rape on the false promise of marriage, assault, criminal intimidation, and threats to circulate private photos and videos. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly used the intimate content to pressure and blackmail the woman after their relationship deteriorated. During the hearing, evidence related to the allegations was placed before the High Court. The police informed the court that efforts to trace and arrest the accused were underway, while also working to recover the electronic devices mentioned in the complaint.
The High Court has directed the investigating officers to submit a detailed report outlining every step taken in the investigation, including efforts made to arrest the accused and recover the electronic evidence. The court has made it clear that the investigation should proceed without delay and in accordance with the law. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for August 11, when the police are expected to present their status report before the court.
Abhishek Porel, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter from Bengal, has been part of the Delhi Capitals squad in the Indian Premier League over the last two seasons. After making his IPL debut as a replacement for Rishabh Pant, he impressed with consistent performances and established himself as a regular member of the franchise. Porel has denied all the allegations made against him. As of now, no court has found him guilty of any offence, and the allegations remain under investigation. The legal proceedings are ongoing, and the outcome will depend on the findings of the investigation and subsequent court hearings.
