KOLKATA — The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially taken over the investigation into the 2010 death of Rabin Ghose, a political supporter in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, following a scathing order from the Calcutta High Court. The federal agency re-registered the case on January 16, 2026, marking a significant turn in a legal battle waged by the victim’s widow for over 15 years.
The 2010 Incident
The case originates from an incident on February 14, 2010, during a School Managing Committee election at Prosadpur High School in Jangipara. According to the original complaint, Tapasbroti Chakraborty, the then Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jangipara Police Station, allegedly entered the school premises with a group of political supporters.
Witnesses claimed that without provocation, the officer fired his revolver, fatally striking Rabin Ghose, a supporter of the Trinamool Congress. While state authorities later argued the firing was a justified response to a riotous mob, the victim’s family alleged it was a cold-blooded killing.
A 15-Year Legal Struggle
For a decade and a half, the deceased’s widow, Latika Ghose, relentlessly pursued justice through multiple state-level investigations. The case was handled by local police and subsequently by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal, both of which repeatedly submitted “Final Reports” seeking to discharge the accused officer.
State investigators argued that:
More Read
- Conflicting Medical Opinions: One expert suggested the fatal shot came from a long-barrelled service rifle from over 50 yards, while a Medical Board later opined it was a “near shot” from a distance of six inches to four feet.
- Lack of Physical Evidence: No bullet or pellet was recovered from the scene or the body.
- Justification: Authorities maintained the officer fired in self-defense against a violent crowd hurling bombs and arrows.
High Court Intervenes
In a judgment delivered on December 18, 2025, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh of the Calcutta High Court expressed deep dissatisfaction with the state’s handling of the probe. The Court observed that successive investigating officers appeared to use conflicting expert opinions as a means to “shield” the accused officer while ignoring consistent ocular (eyewitness) testimony.
The Court noted that several witnesses—including Sukumar Pakhira and Hiralal Bhar—had given judicially recorded statements under Section 164 Cr.PC, alleging they saw the officer pull a gun from his socks and fire directly at Ghose.
“The manner in which the investigation has been conducted has failed to satisfy this Court… In light of the petitioner’s relentless pursuit of justice spanning 15 years… this Court remains unconvinced,” Justice Ghosh stated.
CBI Mandate
The High Court has now set aside previous orders accepting the state’s final reports and transferred all case records, original diaries, and materials to the CBI.
More Read
The Zonal Director of the CBI has been directed to allocate the case to an officer of the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police. The agency has registered the FIR under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder). The CBI’s Special Crime Branch (SCB) in Kolkata is tasked with unearthing the truth behind the decade-old tragedy.
