Son arrested, ex-TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh moves Calcutta High Court for protection

Hours after his son was apprehended by police in connection with multiple criminal cases, former Trinamool Congress MLA from Panihati, Nirmal Ghosh approached the Calcutta High Court seeking legal protection from arrest.

A petition seeking permission to file the plea was mentioned before the bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya, which allowed the matter to be placed before the court. The case is likely to come up for hearing later this week.

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The police arrested defeated Trinamool Congress candidate from Panihati, Tirthankar Ghosh from the Dakshineswar area late on Sunday night. Police said he is an accused in a case related to the alleged post-poll violence following the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.

Ghosh is also involved in an alleged lottery fraud involving Rs 1 crore in which he and his associates forcibly snatched a winning lottery ticket from its owner, assaulted the victim and misappropriated the prize money. He had allegedly been absconding for a considerable period before police tracked his mobile phone location and arrested him following a tip-off.

The legal and political troubles for Nirmal Ghosh have also intensified in recent weeks. Several written complaints have reportedly been lodged against the former MLA alleging extortion, illegal possession of firearms and corruption.

Police have already arrested Panihati hotel owner Sushanta Sarkar for his alleged involvement in the same syndicate. Sources said Ghosh had also been avoiding police in anticipation of possible legal action. His name has also figured in allegations related to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital case.

It has been alleged that Ghosh, then the MLA from Panihati, played a key role in facilitating the hurried cremation of the deceased doctor at the Panihati crematorium. The matter is currently under investigation by a central agency.

Ghosh has also faced political isolation. Amid mounting controversies, he had recently attempted to join the camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee. However, Ritabrata publicly announced that Ghosh had attended a meeting uninvited and clarified that there had been no meeting with him or any discussion on his induction into the group.