A Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader from West Bengal's Bankura district, Rajib Ghoshal, was arrested late Saturday night from Kolkata on charges of cheating residents out of lakhs of rupees by promising government jobs that never materialised. Bankura district police confirmed the arrest on Sunday, 30 August, marking the second such job-fraud arrest linked to the party in the district within weeks.

How the Fraud Unfolded

According to police sources, Ghoshal's name surfaced during the interrogation of another TMC leader, Pallab Pandey, who had already been arrested from Beliatore in Bankura district on a similar complaint. The complainant against Pandey alleged that he paid ₹4.20 lakh for a position at a large block health centre — a job that was never delivered. When the complainant sought a refund, that too was denied.

Investigators say Ghoshal was implicated after Pandey's questioning, prompting a Bankura police team to travel to Kolkata for the arrest. He was produced before the Bankura district court on Sunday.

Who Is Rajib Ghoshal

Ghoshal was, until recently, a well-known political figure in Beliatore, Bankura. He reportedly served as the district president of Trinamool's youth wing in Bankura and is described in local political circles as a close associate of TMC general secretary and Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee — the party's most prominent second-generation leader and a key organiser of its student and youth outfits.

His proximity to the party's upper echelons reportedly gave him considerable influence in the district, making the fraud allegations all the more politically sensitive for the ruling party in West Bengal.

What the Police Said

Bankura Superintendent of Police VG Satish confirmed the arrest, stating: 'There was a complaint of taking money in the name of providing jobs. While investigating that complaint, we found the name of Rajib Ghoshal. That is why he has been arrested. The investigation of the case is underway.'

Police did not disclose the total number of complainants or the full quantum of money allegedly defrauded, saying the probe is ongoing.

BJP Response and Courtroom Drama

The arrest drew an immediate political response from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had earlier staged a protest outside the Beliatore police station. As Ghoshal was being taken to court, BJP leaders and workers reportedly shouted 'Chor-Chor' (thief-thief) slogans.

BJP leader Ramprasad Lai said: 'Rajib Ghoshal has taken lakhs of rupees from many people in the area in the name of providing government jobs. That job thief has been arrested today. We had planned to give him 'egg therapy'. But on the request of the police officers, we did not throw eggs. We just protested around him.'

A Pattern of Job-Fraud Cases in Bankura

This is the second TMC-linked job-fraud arrest in Bankura in quick succession, and it comes amid broader scrutiny of alleged corruption in West Bengal's ruling party. Notably, the complaint against Pandey was filed just days after the state assembly election results were announced — a period when political patronage networks often come under heightened public scrutiny. The back-to-back arrests suggest investigators are working through a wider network, with Ghoshal's custodial interrogation likely to reveal further leads.