Kolkata attack: One arrested over assault on ex-CPI(M) MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya's home
Synopsis
A 29-year-old man was arrested in Kolkata over the attack on the home of senior advocate and ex-CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya — but the case has taken a political dimension after a photo emerged showing the accused in attire bearing the Trinamool Congress's original electoral symbol. With the Calcutta High Court now watching and counter-complaints filed against Bhattacharya himself, this is rapidly becoming more than a local law-and-order story.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Police arrested Bappa Guchait , 29 , on 9 October over the attack on former CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya's residence in Purbalok, Jadavpur, South Kolkata .
Guchait was picked up from Garia based on CCTV evidence and charged with wilful destruction of property, disturbing public peace, intimidation, destruction of evidence, and forgery.
A social media photograph reportedly shows the accused wearing attire bearing the Trinamool Congress electoral symbol; police have not authenticated the image.
Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge expressed concern over attacks on advocates statewide and directed the state government to submit an action report.
A pro-Hindutva group filed two counter complaints at Topsia and Garfa police stations, alleging Bhattacharya made derogatory remarks targeting a religion.
West Bengal Police on Friday, 9 October arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with the pre-dawn attack on the South Kolkata residence of senior advocate and former Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Rajya Sabha member Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya at Purbalok near Jadavpur. The arrest came hours after the Calcutta High Court expressed concern over a pattern of attacks on advocates across West Bengal.
The Arrest
The accused has been identified as Bappa Guchait, aged 29, and was taken into custody from his residence in Garia, on the southern outskirts of Kolkata. Police said CCTV footage from cameras installed near Bhattacharya's home formed the primary basis for the arrest.
According to a state police officer, Guchait has been charged with wilful destruction of property, disturbing public peace, insulting and intimidating others, destruction of evidence of crime, and forgery. The police produced him before a court on Friday, with the public prosecutor seeking police custody for further interrogation.
Investigation and Political Angle
Investigators are currently questioning Guchait to determine whether other individuals were involved in the assault. Notably, a photograph circulating on social media reportedly shows the arrested man wearing a scarf bearing the original electoral symbol of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). However, police have neither released his photograph to the media nor authenticated the image in circulation.
It is believed Guchait may have had past affiliations with the Trinamool Congress, though it remains unclear whether his political associations changed following the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. Authorities have not formally attributed any political motive to the attack.
High Court Steps In
On Thursday, Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge took cognisance of what he described as a troubling series of attacks on advocates at courts across the state. The Chief Justice directed the state government to submit a detailed report on the actions taken. The police formally informed the High Court on Friday that an arrest had been made.
This comes amid growing concern within the legal fraternity over the safety of advocates in West Bengal, with Bhattacharya's case being among the most high-profile given his political standing and seniority at the bar.
Counter Complaints Filed
In a parallel development, a pro-Hindutva group has filed two counter complaints — one each at the Topsia Police Station and Garfa Police Station, both under the Kolkata Police jurisdiction. The complaints allege that Bhattacharya made derogatory remarks targeting a particular religion. Bhattacharya has not publicly responded to the counter complaints, and the police have not indicated whether any action will be taken on them.
What's Next
With police custody likely to be granted, investigators are expected to pursue leads on whether the attack was organised or carried out by a lone individual. The Calcutta High Court's order for a state government report could also open a broader judicial inquiry into the safety of legal professionals in West Bengal. The political fallout — given the alleged TMC-linked photograph — is likely to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
Not a resolution — the unauthenticated TMC-symbol photograph, if verified, would turn a criminal case into a political scandal in a state where ruling-party proximity to street violence is a perennial flashpoint. The Calcutta High Court's intervention signals institutional discomfort with what is looking like a pattern, not an isolated incident. The counter-complaints against Bhattacharya are a textbook counter-offensive: shifting narrative from perpetrators to the victim, a tactic critics argue is increasingly common in politically charged cases in West Bengal. The real accountability test will come when the state government submits its court-ordered report — and whether it addresses systemic issues or offers bureaucratic deflection.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in connection with the attack on Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya's residence?
A 29-year-old man named Bappa Guchait was arrested by West Bengal Police on 9 October from his home in Garia, South Kolkata. He was identified based on CCTV footage from cameras near Bhattacharya's residence at Purbalok, Jadavpur.
What charges has Bappa Guchait been booked under?
Guchait has been charged with wilful destruction of property, disturbing public peace, insulting and intimidating others, destruction of evidence of crime, and forgery. Police produced him before a court on Friday and sought police custody for further interrogation.
Why did the Calcutta High Court intervene in this case?
Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge expressed concern on Thursday over a series of attacks on advocates across West Bengal and directed the state government to file a report on actions taken. The police informed the court on Friday that one arrest had been made.
Is there a political connection to the attack?
A photograph circulating on social media reportedly shows Guchait wearing a scarf with the Trinamool Congress's original electoral symbol. However, police have neither released his photo officially nor authenticated the image, and no formal political motive has been established.
What are the counter complaints filed against Bhattacharya?
A pro-Hindutva group filed two complaints — at Topsia and Garfa police stations, both under Kolkata Police — alleging that former CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya made derogatory remarks targeting a particular religion. Bhattacharya has not publicly responded to the allegations.
