Inspector Gautam Das, who was suspended as Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kalighat Police Station during the assembly elections following a controversy over a social media photograph, has been posted at Nabanna, the seat of the Chief Minister’s Office. He was reinstated into the service after the change in government in the state, and was posted at South Division of Kolkata Police.
According to orders issued by Lalbazar (Kolkata Police Headquarters), Inspector Das has been deputed to the Chief Minister’s office at Nabanna, where he will perform specific duties until further orders. His suspension, which was imposed by the Election Commission, has been withdrawn.
Inspector Das, a 2008-batch officer who was recently promoted to the rank of Inspector, was serving in the Special Branch before being posted as OC of Kalighat Police Station on April 25 by the ECI. He was handling duties in sensitive polling booths in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency under Kalighat PS jurisdiction during the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.
The controversy erupted when Das posted a photograph of himself in police uniform and seated in his office chair at Kalighat PS while holding an advanced automatic firearm, which went viral on social media. The image carried a caption saying “Ready for the new assignment.”
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) described the photo as “objectionable” and “uncomfortable,” alleging it showed him aiming the weapon. TMC leader Jayprakash Majumdar promptly lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, the Kolkata Police Commissioner, and the Chief Electoral Officer, demanding action.
As a result, Inspector Gautam Das was swiftly suspended following the TMC complaint amid the election period, during which the OC post at Kalighat PS saw multiple changes. Chameli Mukherjee was given the responsibility of the new OC of Kalighat police station after the suspension of Das. However, Mukherjee was also replaced within just 24 hours by Balai Bagh.
After the BJP came to power and Suvendu Adhikari became the CM, the suspension order of Das was lifted, and he was posted at the South Division of Kolkata Police. The latest order transfers Inspector Das to the CM’s office in Nabanna.
