Kolkata/Balasore: Veteran Trinamool Congress functionary Nirmal Ghosh, a five-time former MLA from Panihati, was arrested from Odisha’s Balasore on Thursday, barely 72 hours after CM Suvendu Adhikari publicly asked Barrackpore police commissioner Amit Kumar Singh to probe his role in the irregularities surrounding the cremation of the RG Kar rape-murder victim in Aug 2024.Ghosh (80) had slipped out after the victim’s father lodged a complaint against him on Tuesday night. The FIR drawn up by police named Ghosh, former Panihati civic chairperson Somnath Dey, and Sanjib Mukherjee, a neighbour of the victim, and accused them of facilitating a hasty cremation to destroy evidence.Police claimed Ghosh was hiding in Balasore’s Simulia and was traced through mobile surveillance. “He changed his cellphone and SIM card and kept in touch with a few aides over a new phone,” officers said. A Barrackpore police team raided a hotel on NH 16 at around 9 am and arrested him.A police team will bring Ghosh back to Kolkata after completing formalities in Odisha and produce him in court on Friday. “Odisha Police is extending all necessary support to Bengal Police in the matter,” DIG (eastern range) Pinak Mishra said.The RG Kar victim’s parents could not be reached for comments as their phones remained switched off. Her mother is currently BJP MLA from Panihati.In Kolkata, Ghosh’s family members claimed they had not been in contact with the senior politico for about two months. “He was not staying at our Sodepur house. Police came here several times and we cooperated with the investigation. We had no idea where he was. We heard about his arrest from the media,” said daughter-in-law Dipanwita.According to the new FIR drawn up on Tuesday, the victim’s body was cremated shortly after being handed over to the family following post-mortem examination on Aug 9, 2024. Her father alleged political influence was used to pressure the family into taking the body to the crematorium quickly, with several party workers accompanying Ghosh. As a result, many family members did not get adequate time to pay their last respects.Addressing the issue on Sunday, CM Adhikari had said serious illegalities were committed during the cremation. “The victim’s body was third in line but was cremated ahead of the others. The cremation charges were also waived. Ghosh, Dey, and Mukherjee jointly orchestrated the entire episode,” the CM said.Cops said Ghosh was also facing several other allegations, including extortion, brandishing of illegal firearms and forcibly seizing lottery tickets. His son and Trinamool candidate from Panihati in the recent Assembly election, Tirthankar, was arrested from Dakshineswar on July 13 in connection with these charges.Ghosh, however, had mostly remained out of sight since BJP came to office in the state. Appointed assembly chief whip by Trinamool, he was seen publicly only once in July, when he showed up at a meeting organised by the Ritabrata-led Trinamool bloc. The rebel camp later clarified that Ghosh had not been invited and arrived on his own.Ghosh’s co-accused, Sanjib Mukherjee, a neighbour of the victim, denied entering the crematorium during the service. “Although I was with the victim’s parents since morning and extended all possible help, I did not step inside Panihati crematorium. My wife had passed away four months ago and my daughter was pregnant. Therefore, following Bengali rituals, I refrained from entering the crematorium,” he told TOI.While BJP workers in Panihati celebrated Ghosh’s arrest, both Trinamool camps distanced themselves from Ghosh. “We have nothing to do with this,” Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee said. Ritabrata Banerjee, who is heading the rebel MLAs, said, “We have no relation with him (Ghosh).”
