The Kotwali police in Krishnagar arrested Trinamool Congress block president Swapan Ghosh on charges of allegedly cheating a former employee by taking Rs 3 lakh with the promise of reinstating him in service.
The police arrested Ghosh from a hotel in Dhubulia on Sunday afternoon after the party functionary was absconding for several days. Ghosh was produced before the Krishnagar court on Monday.
Ghosh, a former pradhan of Bhatjangla Gram Panchayat, is known to be a close associate of former state minister Ujjal Biswas. Police sources said allegations of job fraud and financial irregularities dating back to his tenure as panchayat chief surfaced even before the Assembly elections.
According to investigators, Ghosh was elected chairman of the managing committee of the Shaktinagar Cooperative Agricultural Development Society Ltd. in April 2025. Nilay Biswas, a resident of Simurali in Chakdaha, had been working there as a temporary employee.
The complainant alleged that in June 2026, the society’s secretary, Sujit Biswas, along with Ghosh, terminated his services. Subsequently, they allegedly demanded Rs 3 lakh, assuring him that his job would be restored.
Nilay Biswas claimed that despite paying the money, neither was he reinstated nor was the amount returned. Instead, Nilay alleged that they threatened him when he sought the return of his money.
Following the recent drubbing of the Trinamool Congress in the state assembly elections, the complainant approached the police and lodged a formal complaint. Acting on the complaint, police launched a search operation and eventually traced Ghosh to a hotel in Dhubulia, where they arrested him.
Police said the investigation is continuing, including allegations of financial irregularities linked to Ghosh’s previous tenure as panchayat chief.
No official statement was available from the Trinamool Congress or the accused’s legal representatives till the time of filing this report.