Kolkata, July 2026 : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday announced the suspension of five police officers, including an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, over allegations of partisan conduct and misuse of authority during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government.
The announcement was made while the Chief Minister addressed the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on the final day of the six-day extended Budget Session. Adhikari said the action reflected his government’s commitment to accountability and impartial policing.
Among those suspended is Koteshwar Rao, the former Superintendent of Police of the Diamond Harbour Police District in South 24 Parganas. Rao was widely regarded as a close associate of Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee during the previous administration.
The four other officers placed under suspension are Moazzem Hossain, former Inspector-in-Charge of Kaliaganj Police Station in North Dinajpur; Subarna Dutta Chowdhury, former Officer-in-Charge of Bartala Police Station under Kolkata Police; Sadhan Pandey, former Sub-Inspector at Bartala Police Station; and Amalendu Biswas, former Inspector-in-Charge of Krishnanagar Police Station in Nadia district.
Addressing the Assembly, Adhikari alleged that the police machinery had been misused at several places between 2021 and 2026 under the previous state government. He claimed that law enforcement agencies were often used for political purposes and that the sentiments of followers of Sanatan Dharma had been hurt during that period. He said the current administration was committed to restoring public confidence in policing by taking action against officers accused of misconduct.
This is the latest in a series of disciplinary measures initiated by the Adhikari government since it assumed office following the West Bengal Assembly elections in May 2026. Soon after taking charge, the Chief Minister suspended three senior IPS officers over their alleged dereliction of duty in connection with the rape and murder of a woman doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024.
Those officers included Vineet Kumar Goyal, then Commissioner of Kolkata Police; Abhishek Gupta, then Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Division); and Indira Mukherjee, then Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division). A departmental inquiry was also ordered against the trio to examine their alleged lapses in handling the high-profile case.
Earlier this month, the state government extended the suspension of the three IPS officers by another 120 days, indicating that the disciplinary proceedings against them are still underway.
Reiterating his administration’s stance against corruption and abuse of power, Adhikari later issued a statement on social media, asserting that his government would adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and administrative misconduct.
“The state government is determined to strictly implement the Zero Tolerance Policy across all levels of governance,” the Chief Minister said, adding that transparency, accountability and fairness would remain central to his administration’s functioning.
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