Calcutta HC orders Kolkata Police to secure TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh after twin attacks
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has stepped in to order police protection for TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh after he was attacked twice in 24 hours last month — once near Hooghly and once in his own Kolkata constituency. With his counsel alleging attempts on his life and the court questioning how a mob attacked him despite police presence, the case has now been referred to a Division Bench alongside a broader PIL on political violence in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court on 12 October 2026 directed Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay K Nand to ensure total security for TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh .
Ghosh was attacked twice within 24 hours — near Uttarpara, Hooghly on 26 September and in Beliaghata, Kolkata on 27 September .
His counsel argued the attacks were attempts on his life, not mere egg-pelting; Ghosh had only two police guards at the time.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya questioned how a mob assault occurred despite security presence and sought a police report at the next hearing.
The matter has been referred to a Division Bench and will be heard alongside a PIL on egg-pelting incidents across West Bengal .
The BJP has denied allegations of involvement in the attacks made by Ghosh.
The Calcutta High Court on Monday, 12 October 2026, directed Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay K Nand to ensure total security for Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Kunal Ghosh, following two separate attacks on him and his vehicles within a span of 24 hours last month. The order was passed by a single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, who also directed that no such attacks be repeated.
Background: Twin Attacks Within 24 Hours
Kunal Ghosh, the Beliaghata MLA and a journalist-turned-politician closely associated with the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress, approached the Calcutta High Court on 28 September seeking protection after two alarming incidents. The first attack allegedly took place near Uttarpara in Hooghly district on the afternoon of 26 September, when Ghosh was travelling to Serampore to attend a rally addressed by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The following day, 27 September, Ghosh alleged he was targeted again in his own Beliaghata constituency in Kolkata.
Ghosh claimed that on the second occasion, several individuals followed his vehicle as he left his residence, some of them allegedly carrying revolvers. He alleged that an attempt was made to smash the windows of his car with a hammer, while stones were hurled at both the front and rear windows. According to him, his vehicle was chased as far as Narkeldanga, and the car sustained damage in the incident.
Court Hearing: Security Gaps Questioned
When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, Ghosh's counsel raised concerns over the adequacy of his client's security. He pointed out that despite being an elected public representative, Ghosh had been provided with only two police guards, and sought enhanced protection including a pilot car.
Counsel argued that the incidents of 26 and 27 September were not mere egg-pelting episodes. 'The incidents that took place on September 26 and September 27 cannot be seen as mere incidents of egg pelting. Rather, there were attempts on his life,' he submitted before the court.
Justice Bhattacharyya questioned how a mob attack could have occurred despite the presence of two security personnel, and asked why such a situation arose if guards were present. The court directed the office of Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay K Nand to submit a detailed report on the matter at the next date of hearing.
Case Referred to Division Bench
Justice Bhattacharyya referred the matter to a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court. It will be heard alongside a public interest litigation concerning a separate series of egg-pelting incidents targeting individuals across West Bengal, suggesting the court sees a broader pattern of politically motivated violence in the state.
BJP Denies Involvement
Ghosh has publicly alleged that workers affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were behind both attacks and that the police had remained inactive despite the incidents. The BJP has denied any involvement. This comes amid a broader climate of political friction between the ruling TMC and the BJP in West Bengal, where inter-party violence has frequently triggered judicial and electoral scrutiny. The court's intervention marks yet another instance of the judiciary stepping in to address law-and-order concerns in the state.
Point of View
Alongside a PIL on the wider egg-pelting pattern, signals that the judiciary sees this not as an isolated incident but as part of a systemic breakdown. With the BJP-TMC rivalry intensifying ahead of the next electoral cycle, the risk is that such incidents become normalised unless the court's directive forces genuine accountability from the Kolkata Police.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Calcutta High Court order regarding Kunal Ghosh?
The Calcutta High Court directed Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay K Nand to ensure total security for TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh and to prevent any recurrence of attacks on him. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya also asked the police commissioner's office to submit a report at the next hearing.
When and where was Kunal Ghosh attacked?
Kunal Ghosh was attacked twice within 24 hours — first near Uttarpara in Hooghly district on 26 September, and again in his Beliaghata constituency in Kolkata on 27 September. His vehicle was damaged in the second incident, and he alleged his car was chased up to Narkeldanga.
Who does Kunal Ghosh blame for the attacks?
Ghosh has alleged that BJP-affiliated workers were behind both attacks and that the police remained inactive despite the incidents. The BJP has denied any involvement in the attacks.
Why is the case being referred to a Division Bench?
Justice Bhattacharyya referred the matter to a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court so it can be heard alongside a public interest litigation concerning egg-pelting incidents targeting individuals across West Bengal. The court appears to view the incidents as part of a broader pattern of political violence.
What security did Kunal Ghosh have at the time of the attacks?
According to Ghosh's counsel, he had only two police guards at the time of the attacks, despite being an elected public representative. The court questioned how a mob assault could have occurred in the presence of security personnel and directed that enhanced protection, including a pilot car, be considered.
