Abishek Porel was, until recently, best known as one of Bengal's more promising young cricketers, a left-handed wicketkeeper-batter with India A appearances to his name and a regular IPL berth with Delhi Capitals. That changed after a rape case was filed against him in June 2026, and the Calcutta High Court reportedly directed police to arrest him.
Here is a look at who he is.
The cricketer
Porel is 23 years old and plays as a left-handed top-order batter and wicketkeeper for Bengal in domestic cricket. He made his first-class debut in the 2021-22 season and has since played 32 first-class matches and 23 List A games, building a reputation as one of the more dependable young players coming through the Bengal setup.
His keeping and batting were good enough to earn him India A call-ups for tours to both the United Kingdom and Australia, putting him on the radar of national selectors at a relatively young age.
The IPL career
Porel has been part of the Delhi Capitals franchise in the Indian Premier League since 2023. Last season, he scored 108 runs across four innings for the side. While those are not standout numbers, his continued presence in the squad reflected the franchise's belief in him as a developing talent worth backing.
The case against him
A complaint was filed against Porel at Mogra Police Station in Hooghly district, West Bengal, by a woman and her mother in June 2026. The woman alleged that Porel had been in a relationship with her for around three years and had established a physical relationship with her under the false promise of marriage.
The complaint also alleged assault, criminal intimidation, and that Porel had recorded intimate moments without her consent. The Calcutta High Court later directed Mogra Police to arrest him, noting that his electronic devices needed to be seized urgently to prevent any recorded content from being disseminated.
Police have confirmed they have begun investigating the matter. As of the last available information, Porel had not yet been apprehended.
What Porel said
When the allegations first became public, Porel, who was in Bengaluru at the time, denied everything and described the accusations as false. He said he had not been contacted by police and appeared to suggest the timing of the complaint was not coincidental.
"I am playing well now, so various things are coming up," he was quoted as saying by TOI. He added that he would speak in detail once police completed their initial inquiry.
He has not made any further public statement since the High Court issued its arrest order.
(With TOI and agency inputs)
