Tirthankar Ghosh, the defeated All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Panihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, was arrested on Monday by the Khardah Police Station on charges including an alleged lottery scam, extortion, and threatening individuals with firearms. He had been absconding for a considerable period before police, acting on a tip-off, raided a hideout and apprehended him.

The Arrest

A team from Khardah Police Station tracked Tirthankar to a hideout after receiving intelligence from their sources. Following his arrest, he was to be produced before a district court in North 24 Parganas later the same day, with the public prosecutor expected to seek police custody. Tirthankar is the son of Nirmal Ghosh, the former Chief Whip of the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal Assembly during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led government.

Key Allegations Against the Ghosh Family

Both Nirmal Ghosh and Tirthankar Ghosh were accused of allegedly forcibly taking away approximately ₹1 crore that a local driver had won in a lottery. Police had been pursuing them in connection with this case. Their names had also surfaced in connection with post-poll violence in the Panihati area following Nirmal Ghosh's election to the West Bengal Assembly from the same constituency in 2021 — his third consecutive term from that seat.

Political Background and the Panihati Defeat

In the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly election, the Trinamool Congress fielded Tirthankar from Panihati in place of his father. He was defeated by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ratna Debnath by a margin of over 28,000 votes. Notably, Ratna Debnath is the mother of the woman doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata who became a victim of rape and murder within the hospital premises in August 2024 — a case that had triggered nationwide outrage.

TMC Rebel Faction Angle

While both Nirmal Ghosh and Tirthankar were in hiding, speculation arose over Nirmal Ghosh's possible participation in a meeting of the so-called 'rebel but majority' faction within the Trinamool Congress, led by expelled party legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, reportedly held on the preceding Saturday. However, Ritabrata Banerjee subsequently ruled out Nirmal Ghosh's inclusion in his group, stating there were reservations about the former Chief Whip.

What Comes Next

With Tirthankar Ghosh now in custody, investigators are expected to probe the full extent of the alleged lottery scam and extortion network. Whether the case draws further scrutiny to the broader political connections of the Ghosh family — and their alleged role in post-poll violence — will be closely watched in the coming days.