Tirthankar Ghosh, the Trinamool Congress candidate defeated in the recent Panihati Assembly constituency election in West Bengal, was apprehended on Monday. He faces charges related to activities like a lottery scam, extortion, and threats involving firearms. Tirthankar, son of Nirmal Ghosh, a former Trinamool Congress Chief Whip, had been evading authorities until the police located and arrested him.
The arrest followed a tip-off to the Khardah Police Station in North 24 Parganas district, leading to a raid on a hideout where Tirthankar was found. He is scheduled to appear in a North 24 Parganas district court, where the prosecution will request his police custody. Nirmal Ghosh and Tirthankar were linked to post-poll violence and an alleged incident of forcibly taking lottery winnings from a local driver.
During the recent Assembly election, Tirthankar stood in place of his father but was defeated by the BJP candidate, Ratna Debnath, by a significant margin. Debnath, a victim’s mother in a high-profile rape and murder case, emerged victorious. The police had been searching for Nirmal and Tirthankar in connection with the lottery case, with speculation arising over Nirmal’s involvement in certain political factions.
