CALCUTTA HIGH COURT PUTS KUNAL GHOSH’S SAFETY UNDER JUDICIAL WATCH AS ROW ERUPTS OVER SHRINKING SECURITY COVER
October 13, 2026
The Calcutta High Court on Monday directed Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand to ensure the safety of Trinamool Congress legislator Kunal Ghosh, bringing the Beleghata MLA’s security arrangements under renewed judicial scrutiny amid his allegations that he faces a threat to his life from supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya issued the direction while hearing a petition filed by Ghosh, who had approached the court in September seeking appropriate security measures. The MLA alleged that BJP supporters had attacked him on several occasions and that he feared being killed in a future assault.
The court also directed Police Commissioner Ajay Nand to submit a report detailing the measures taken to protect the legislator. The order places responsibility on the Kolkata Police leadership to explain the existing security arrangements and demonstrate that adequate steps are being taken to address the concerns raised in the petition.
During Monday’s hearing, counsel for Ghosh informed the court that the MLA had previously been provided with Y-category security cover, but the arrangement had subsequently been scaled down. According to the submission, Ghosh now has only two security guards.
The reduction in protection formed a central part of the arguments presented on the legislator’s behalf. His counsel sought judicial intervention to ensure that the security arrangements were sufficient in view of the alleged threats and previous incidents.
Justice Bhattacharyya, however, questioned the need to deploy additional personnel, asking how Ghosh could have been attacked if two security guards were already accompanying him. The judge declined to order the immediate deployment of additional security personnel, while directing the police commissioner to ensure the MLA’s safety.
The state government’s lawyer informed the court that the police had already taken measures to provide adequate protection to Ghosh. The submission placed the existing security arrangements at the centre of the legal dispute, with the court seeking a report from the police commissioner rather than immediately ordering an increase in the number of guards.
The proceedings highlight the distinction between the MLA’s request for stronger personal protection and the court’s requirement that the authorities ensure his safety through appropriate security measures. The directive does not, by itself, establish that the alleged attacks were carried out by BJP supporters; those claims remain allegations made by Ghosh.
The case also places renewed focus on the process through which security cover provided to elected representatives is assessed and modified. Such decisions must take account of the individual threat assessment and the protective arrangements considered necessary by the authorities, while concerns about reductions in security can be brought before the judiciary.
The Calcutta High Court’s intervention means that Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand must account for the steps being taken to protect the Trinamool MLA. The report sought by Justice Bhattacharyya is expected to provide the court with further information about the arrangements currently in place and the authorities’ response to Ghosh’s concerns.
For now, the court has directed the police leadership to ensure the legislator’s safety without ordering additional security personnel. The next stage of the matter will depend on the police commissioner’s report and the court’s assessment of whether the existing arrangements adequately address the concerns raised in the petition.
