Kalighat PS ex-OC Gautam Das posted to Nabanna after suspension row
Synopsis
A Kolkata cop suspended for posting a machine-gun photograph during West Bengal's election season has now been assigned to the state secretariat Nabanna — a quiet rehabilitation that highlights the Election Commission's grip on police postings during polls, and the political sensitivity of a single social media status update.
Key Takeaways
Former Kalighat Police Station OC Gautam Das has been posted to the state secretariat Nabanna after his suspension.
Das was suspended by Kolkata Police after a photograph of him holding a machine gun in uniform surfaced on Facebook and WhatsApp .
TMC flagged the image as 'objectionable' and brought it to the notice of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar .
The Kalighat Police Station OC was changed at least four times during the Assembly election period.
Das had been serving in the South Division of Kolkata Police since his suspension before the Nabanna posting.
Former Kalighat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Gautam Das has been ordered to report to the West Bengal state secretariat Nabanna following his suspension over a photograph controversy that erupted during the run-up to the West Bengal Assembly elections, government officials confirmed on Wednesday. Das had been serving in the South Division of Kolkata Police since his suspension.
The Photograph Controversy
Kolkata Police suspended Das after a photograph of him holding a machine gun while seated at his police station desk in uniform surfaced on social media. The image, which Das reportedly shared on his Facebook and WhatsApp status, triggered sharp political reactions ahead of the state polls.
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) flagged the image as 'objectionable' and escalated the matter to the Election Commission of India (ECI). TMC state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar posted the photograph on social media and formally brought it to the notice of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the state's then Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agrawal, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand.
A Revolving Door at Kalighat Police Station
The Kalighat police station saw an unusually high turnover of officers-in-charge in the election period. The first change came on 29 March, when Utpal Ghosh of the Intelligence Department of Kolkata Police was appointed to the post. The Election Commission removed Ghosh within a month of his appointment.
On 25 April, Das — then serving in the Special Branch of Kolkata Police — was brought in as the new OC. The station's OC was subsequently changed at least two more times, reflecting the heightened electoral scrutiny on a police station located in a politically sensitive constituency.
Current Status and Next Steps
Das has now been assigned a posting at Nabanna, the seat of the West Bengal state government, marking a formal transition from his suspension-era placement in the South Division. The move comes amid continued attention on policing conduct during election periods in the state.
The episode underscores the Election Commission's active intervention in personnel decisions during poll season — a pattern that has grown more pronounced in recent West Bengal election cycles.
Point of View
While procedurally justified, also illustrates how a single lapse in digital conduct can derail a serving officer's career trajectory. His quiet posting to Nabanna, rather than reinstatement or formal disciplinary closure, suggests the matter remains politically unresolved. The broader pattern — ECI overruling state police on postings — points to a trust deficit between Bengal's administration and the poll body that has deepened with each election cycle.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Kalighat Police Station OC Gautam Das suspended?
Gautam Das was suspended by Kolkata Police after a photograph showing him holding a machine gun while in uniform at his police station desk went viral on social media. The Trinamool Congress flagged the image as 'objectionable' and brought it to the Election Commission's attention during the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Where has Gautam Das been posted after his suspension?
Das has been ordered to report to Nabanna, the West Bengal state secretariat, as his new posting. He had been working in the South Division of Kolkata Police since his suspension.
How many times was the Kalighat Police Station OC changed during the elections?
The OC of Kalighat Police Station was changed at least four times during the election period. Utpal Ghosh was appointed on 29 March but removed by the Election Commission within a month; Gautam Das replaced him on 25 April, and the post changed at least twice more thereafter.
Who brought the photograph controversy to the Election Commission's notice?
TMC state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar posted the photograph on social media and formally flagged it to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the state's then Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agrawal, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand.
What role did the Election Commission play in Kalighat police postings?
The Election Commission intervened directly in personnel decisions at Kalighat Police Station, removing at least one OC — Utpal Ghosh — within a month of his appointment, reflecting the poll body's heightened scrutiny of policing in sensitive constituencies during West Bengal elections.
