Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has adjourned until September 14 the hearing in the case involving Bengal and Delhi Capitals cricketer Abhishek Porel, who was arrested following allegations of rape, criminal intimidation and other offences. The adjournment came after the West Bengal government sought more time for police to continue their investigation.
Porel was arrested in Hooghly district after a complaint by a medical student led to the registration of a criminal case. The allegations include that the cricketer had a sexual relationship with the woman on a promise of marriage and subsequently subjected her to assault and criminal intimidation. Porel has denied the allegations.
The case has now moved through several stages, including the original police complaint, intervention by the High Court, directions for Porel’s arrest and the seizure of electronic devices, and his eventual arrest. The latest hearing was primarily about allowing the investigating agency additional time to proceed with the case.
It is important to note that the allegations against Porel have not been established in court. An arrest or the registration of a criminal case does not amount to a finding of guilt, and the investigation and subsequent judicial proceedings will determine the legal outcome.
Why did the Calcutta High Court adjourn the hearing?
The immediate reason for the September 14 adjournment was the state’s request for additional time to allow the police to proceed with the investigation.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya was hearing the matter when the state sought an adjournment. According to reports, another accused in the case, described as a friend of Porel, has not yet been apprehended.
The request therefore gives investigators additional time to pursue the remaining aspects of the case.
The latest development should not be interpreted as a final decision on the allegations. The court has not determined Porel’s guilt or innocence through the adjournment. Instead, the next substantive developments will depend on the progress of the investigation and the proceedings before the court.
What are the allegations against Abhishek Porel?
A woman studying medicine filed a complaint at Mogra Police Station in Hooghly district on June 23, 2026.
According to the complaint, she and Porel had been in a relationship for several years and had discussed marriage. She alleged that Porel established a sexual relationship with her on the promise that they would marry.
The complaint also included allegations of assault and criminal intimidation. Earlier reports said the woman approached the police after the relationship deteriorated and alleged that Porel subsequently distanced himself from her. Porel strongly denied the allegations when the complaint first became public.
Reports also indicate that the complainant subsequently approached the Calcutta High Court, alleging that the police had not taken sufficient action.
The matter then came under judicial scrutiny, leading to directions from the High Court for the police to take further steps.
How did the High Court become involved?
The High Court’s intervention followed the complainant’s petition regarding the police investigation.
In a July order, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya directed the police to arrest Porel and another accused. The court also ordered the seizure of electronic devices connected with the accused.
The direction regarding electronic devices was significant because the proceedings included allegations concerning private photographs and digital material. The court’s order sought to prevent the dissemination of material that could compromise the complainant’s privacy.
The police had earlier told the court that a pen drive had been seized and sent for forensic examination, while efforts were continuing to trace Porel.
The High Court’s intervention therefore became a major turning point in the case, eventually leading to Porel’s arrest.
When was Porel arrested?
Porel was arrested late on Monday after police acted on the High Court’s earlier direction, according to reports published following his arrest.
The arrest took place in connection with the case registered at Mogra Police Station in Hooghly. Reports said the case includes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to the allegations, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act.
The legal process following an arrest is separate from the question of whether the allegations will ultimately be proved. Investigators must collect evidence, examine witnesses and complete the necessary procedures before the case progresses further through the judicial system.
The September 14 hearing is therefore expected to take place against the backdrop of an ongoing investigation.
What did the complainant allege about the relationship?
The complaint describes a relationship that the woman said had lasted for around three-and-a-half years.
She alleged that the relationship included discussions about marriage and that the two had travelled abroad together. According to the complaint, the relationship later broke down and Porel allegedly denied the relationship.
Earlier reports also said the two had experienced a dispute around a year and a half before the complaint, with the matter reaching a police station at that time, although no formal complaint was filed then.
These are allegations contained in the complaint and should not be treated as established facts unless supported by evidence and determined through the legal process.
The complainant’s identity has not been disclosed in reports, in keeping with legal and ethical protections generally applicable to survivors and complainants in sexual-offence cases.
What happens next?
The investigation will now remain central to the case ahead of the next hearing.
Police are expected to continue examining the allegations, collecting evidence and pursuing the other accused person who has reportedly not yet been arrested. Digital evidence may also form part of the investigation because the High Court had directed that electronic devices be seized.
The September 14 hearing could provide an update on the investigation and the status of the proceedings. The court may consider the material placed before it and determine what further legal steps are required.
However, the precise outcome of the September hearing cannot be predicted at this stage.
The case will continue through the judicial process, and any determination of criminal liability will ultimately depend on the evidence and decisions of the competent courts.
Porel’s cricket career under scrutiny
The case has attracted considerable attention because of Porel’s profile as a professional cricketer.
Porel represents Bengal in domestic cricket and has played for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. His performances in domestic and franchise cricket have made him one of Bengal’s recognised young wicketkeeper-batters.
The legal case now adds a serious non-cricketing issue to his public profile.
For the moment, however, the criminal proceedings and cricketing matters remain separate. The allegations must be considered within the legal framework, while decisions concerning his professional career would depend on developments involving the player, the relevant authorities and his team.
Why the September 14 date matters
The adjournment gives investigators additional time at a critical stage of the case.
The police had previously faced difficulty locating Porel, according to reports cited during the earlier court proceedings. The High Court subsequently ordered his arrest and directed the seizure of electronic devices.
With Porel now arrested and another accused reportedly still being sought, investigators have more time to pursue the evidence before the next hearing.
The September 14 date therefore represents the next significant judicial checkpoint rather than the conclusion of the case.
Conclusion
The Calcutta High Court’s decision to adjourn the Abhishek Porel case until September 14 was prompted by the state’s request for more time to allow police to continue their investigation. The case follows a June complaint by a medical student alleging rape, assault and criminal intimidation, followed by High Court intervention and an order directing Porel’s arrest and the seizure of electronic devices.
Porel has denied the allegations, and the case remains under investigation. The arrest and court proceedings should not be treated as proof of guilt. The next stage will depend on the evidence gathered by investigators and the proceedings before the Calcutta High Court and other competent courts.