Damayanti SenDamayanti Sen is back in the spotlight — 13 years after the Park Street gangrape case, she’s now a key investigator in West Bengal’s new special panel on crimes against women

 

 

From Park Street to Sandeshkhali: IPS Damayanti Sen again investigating women's abuse after 13 years

After 13 years of the Park Street gang rape case, IPS Damayanti Sen is facing a major investigation again. She has been appointed as the principal investigating officer of the new special committee formed to investigate allegations of abuse against women and children in West Bengal.
What's happening now
On May 18, 2026, Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari announced the formation of a special committee at a press conference in Nabanna. This committee will conduct an impartial investigation into allegations of abuse against women and children in different parts of the state from Sandeshkhali to Kasba and Bogtui. 
Retired Calcutta High Court Justice Sampati Chatterjee will head the committee. And IPS Damayanti Sen will take on the main responsibility of the investigation on the ground.
 In Nabanna, Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari said, “There were several incidents of harassment, violence and torture against women and minors during the previous Trinamool Congress government. An impartial investigation into all those incidents is required.”
Who is Damayanti Sen
Damayanti Sen is a 1996 batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre. She was directly recruited through UPSC. Her IPS ID: 19961006. She is currently serving as ADG and IGP. She has been working in Pay Level 15 since June 23, 2025. She has been promoted once between 2020 and 2026 in her 30 years of service. She has an M.A. in Economics.
Why is Damayanti Sen’s name important
Damayanti Sen led the investigation into the 2012 Park Street gang rape case.  On 6 February 2012, a woman alleged that she was gang-raped in a moving car after leaving a nightclub on Park Street. 
The incident created a huge political storm. The then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee initially called it a "staged incident". She said that the allegation was made to defame the new government. 
Despite strong political pressure, the investigation progressed under the leadership of Damayanti Sen. Ultimately, the main accused were arrested and convicted in court. She was praised at the time for continuing the investigation while maintaining professionalism despite political interference. The Park Street case became one of the most talked-about criminal investigations in Bengal. 
Challenges before the new committee
The work of the new committee will not be easy. The allegations of sexual assault against Sheikh Shahjahan in Sandeshkhali, multiple incidents of prostitution, the violence by Bogtui - all these incidents are politically sensitive. The opposition claims that proper investigation has not been done in the last 10 years. 
On the other hand, the Trinamool counter-alleged that old files are being opened for political purposes. In this situation, the entire state is looking at how impartial the field investigation led by retired Justice Sampathi Chatterjee and Damayanti Sen is.
According to the administrative circles, the determination shown by Damayanti Sen in the Park Street case is the main reason for bringing her to this committee. Only time will tell what her role will be in the investigation of violence against women again after 13 years.
Nabanna has not yet clarified when the committee will submit its report and what the scope of the investigation will be. However, since the Chief Minister's announcement, activities have started at the administrative level.