Former TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh is accused of a cover-up role in the RG Kar rape-murder case (File photo).The West Bengal Police Thursday arrested former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Nirmal Ghosh from Sambalpur in Odisha in connection with a fresh FIR over the alleged rushed cremation of the RG Kar rape-murder victim.Ghosh, who had been untraceable for several days, is being brought to Kolkata by road and will be produced before a Barrackpore court on Friday, according to police sources.The arrest follows a fresh FIR registered on Monday by the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate at Khardah Police Station, based on a complaint filed by the victim’s father.The complaint names three people: Nirmal Ghosh, former TMC MLA and former chief whip in the Assembly; Somnath Dey, Panihati Municipality Councillor; Sanjeev Mukherjee, a neighbour of the victim’s family.Senior officers confirmed the FIR includes charges for wrongful restraint, disappearance of evidence, framing of incorrect records by a public servant, criminal trespass, and showing disrespect to human corpses.Police inquiries at the Panihati crematorium revealed several irregularities on the day of the cremation in August 2024. The victim’s body was rushed for final rites ahead of two other waiting bodies. Standard cremation charges were unexpectedly waived. The authorisation forms were signed by neighbours instead of the victim’s parents or immediate family.Chanda Ghosh, the daughter of Nirmal Ghosh, told the media, “We did not know where he was. For the past two months, he has not been staying at home. The police have repeatedly asked us about his whereabouts, but we simply do not know.”Story continues below this ad“My father was an MLA and always stood by the families of the dead, no matter who they were in Panihati. He has consistently cooperated with the investigation. The police deemed it necessary to arrest him, so he was taken into custody. We will pursue legal action. We plan to appeal to the Chief Minister, requesting that he also consider our family.”Dipanita Ghosh, the daughter-in-law, said, “We learned about the arrest through the news. Until we have a chance to meet him, we cannot comment further. My father-in-law left home a long time ago and did not contact us or inform us of his whereabouts.”“We trust that the police will carry out their duties with the support of the state administration. He is unwell and 80 years old, so we hope the authorities will take that into consideration. We have never discussed his work or the RG Kar issue with him.”The fresh probe was ordered by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari during an August 8 event in Panihati marking the second death anniversary of the junior doctor. Adhikari directed state police to launch an independent investigation parallel to the ongoing court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe to address unresolved questions surrounding the cremation.Story continues below this ad“There is a mystery why no charge was taken for the cremation of the victim’s body. Why was the victim’s body cremated without the signature of any family member? All these will be probed again,” Chief Minister Adhikari said.The victim’s body was found in a seminar room at Kolkata’s state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024, following her rape and murder the previous night.Her parents and protesting junior doctors have maintained from the beginning that both the postmortem and cremation were conducted in undue haste under the supervision of the accused to prevent a second autopsy.Reacting to the arrest, Dr Aniket Mahato, a key face of the ‘Abhaya’ doctor protests, said, “Why Nirmal Ghosh did such a thing and under whose instructions is a big question. The truth should come out. Several people are involved in hushing up the case. It was clear that the body was quickly cremated—why did it take so long for the arrest? We want justice to be served.”Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage. Experience Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness. Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances. Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including: State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies. Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues. Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:KolkataWest Bengal