Indian Premier League (IPL) cricketer and Bengal wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel was arrested by the West Bengal Police in connection with a case involving rape, physical assault, illegal confinement, and criminal intimidation. Porel, who represents the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, was taken into custody late Monday night from Hooghly district and produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Chinsurah.
Confirming the action, Hooghly (Rural) Superintendent of Police Kunar Bhushan Singh stated that the arrest was made following an official court order. The initial complaint was lodged on June 23 at the Mogra Police Station by a third-year medical student. Based on the complaint, law enforcement officials registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the cricketer under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—including Section 69, which addresses deceitful sexual intercourse on a false promise of marriage—alongside provisions under the Information Technology (IT) Act.
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According to police sources, the complainant alleged that she and Porel had been in a relationship for approximately three-and-a-half years, with both families actively discussing marriage. However, strain developed in the relationship, after which Porel allegedly began distancing himself. The complainant further alleged that Porel refused to fulfill his promise of marriage and resorted to physical abuse.
The FIR contains severe details regarding an incident in Delhi on April 2. The woman alleged that Porel illegally confined her, isolated her, and withheld food, leaving her in a severely weakened physical state that required immediate medical treatment. Additionally, the complaint alleges that intimate moments were recorded without her consent and later used to threaten and intimidate her.
The legal proceedings gained momentum after the complainant approached the Calcutta High Court, citing police inaction. In a directive issued on July 14, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya directed the Bengal Police to apprehend Porel and seize his electronic devices to prevent any potential dissemination of private material. Forensic teams have already seized electronic items, including a pen drive, as part of the evidence collection process.
Porel, 23, made his first-class debut for Bengal in the 2021-22 domestic season and subsequently earned call-ups to the India A squad. He was brought into the Delhi Capitals squad in 2023, accumulating 769 runs across 35 IPL matches at a strike rate of 145.36.
While Porel had previously dismissed the allegations when the complaint was first lodged—attributing them to his rising public profile—he and his legal team are now preparing their defense as the matter moves forward through the judicial system. The allegations remain under active investigation, with guilt or innocence to be determined in court.
