RG Kar case: Former TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh sent to 14-day custody
Synopsis
A former TMC legislator accused of orchestrating the rushed cremation of the R.G. Kar rape-murder victim — allegedly to block a second post-mortem — has been sent to 14-day judicial custody after being arrested from Odisha. His bail plea, filed on medical grounds at age 78, was rejected outright. One co-accused remains at large.
Key Takeaways
Nirmal Ghosh , former TMC MLA, remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a Barrackpore district court on 14 August 2025 .
Ghosh is accused of being one of three alleged masterminds behind the hurried cremation of the R.G.
Kar rape-murder victim in August 2024 , allegedly to prevent a second post-mortem.
He was arrested from Odisha on Thursday night after absconding since the fresh FIR was registered.
Bail plea on medical grounds — citing his age of 78 and ailments — was rejected by the court.
Co-accused Sanjeev Banerjee has been arrested; local councillor Somnath Dey remains absconding.
Fresh FIR followed an announcement by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on 8 August ordering a new probe into the cremation.
A district court in Barrackpore on Friday, 14 August 2025, remanded former Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Nirmal Ghosh to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with his alleged role in a larger conspiracy surrounding the rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024. Ghosh, who had been absconding since the fresh FIR was registered, was arrested from neighbouring Odisha on Thursday night before being produced before the court.
The Core Allegation
The principal charge against Ghosh is that he was one of three alleged masterminds who ensured a rushed cremation of the victim's body at a crematorium in Panihati, reportedly in breach of established cremation protocols. Investigators allege the hurried cremation was intended to eliminate any possibility of a second post-mortem examination that could have yielded additional forensic evidence.
Bail Plea Rejected
When Ghosh was produced before the district court at Barrackpore, his legal counsel filed a bail application on medical grounds, arguing that the accused is 78 years old and suffers from age-related ailments requiring sustained treatment. The public prosecutor opposed the plea, citing the gravity of the charges in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case. The court rejected the bail application and ordered the 14-day judicial remand.
How the Fresh FIR Came About
On 8 August, while addressing a public programme at Panihati, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a fresh probe by the Barrackpore Police Commissariat into what he described as a 'conspired' and 'hurried' cremation of the victim's body. Following that announcement, the victim's father filed a fresh complaint at Khardah Police Station, on the basis of which a new FIR was registered naming three individuals: Nirmal Ghosh, local Trinamool councillor from Panihati Municipality Somnath Dey, and Sanjeev Banerjee, a neighbour of the victim's family.
Status of the Other Accused
Of the three named in the FIR, Banerjee has also been arrested by police. Dey, the local councillor, remains at large as of this report. Ghosh had been evading arrest since the FIR was filed until his apprehension in Odisha on Thursday night. This case forms part of the broader legal proceedings stemming from the August 2024 R.G. Kar hospital crime, which triggered nationwide protests over doctor safety and institutional accountability.
What Comes Next
Ghosh will remain in judicial custody for 14 days, during which investigators are expected to examine his alleged role in the cremation conspiracy more closely. The search for absconding accused Somnath Dey continues. The R.G. Kar case remains under close judicial and public scrutiny, with multiple proceedings ongoing at various levels of the legal system.
Point of View
It implicates a network, not just one man. The fact that a fresh FIR emerged only after the Chief Minister publicly flagged the issue raises its own questions about why investigative agencies did not pursue this angle independently over the past year. With one accused still absconding and the victim's family driving the complaint, the pace of accountability remains uneven.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nirmal Ghosh and why was he arrested?
Nirmal Ghosh is a former Trinamool Congress MLA who was arrested in connection with the R.G. Kar Medical College rape and murder case of August 2024. He is accused of being one of three alleged masterminds behind the rushed cremation of the victim's body, which investigators allege was intended to prevent a second post-mortem examination.
What is the allegation about the cremation in the RG Kar case?
Investigators allege that the victim's body was cremated in a hurried manner at a crematorium in Panihati, reportedly in violation of established cremation protocols. The alleged motive was to eliminate the possibility of a second post-mortem that could have revealed additional forensic evidence.
Why was Ghosh's bail plea rejected?
Ghosh's counsel sought bail on medical grounds, arguing he is 78 years old and requires sustained treatment for age-related ailments. The court rejected the plea after the public prosecutor opposed it, citing the seriousness of the charges in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case.
Who are the other accused in this fresh FIR?
The fresh FIR names three individuals: Nirmal Ghosh, local Panihati Municipality councillor Somnath Dey, and Sanjeev Banerjee, a neighbour of the victim's family. Banerjee has been arrested, while Dey remains at large.
How did the fresh FIR in this case come about?
On 8 August, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly called for a fresh probe by the Barrackpore Police Commissariat into the cremation. The victim's father subsequently filed a complaint at Khardah Police Station, leading to the registration of a new FIR naming the three accused.
