Election Commission orders action against four Kolkata Police officers over lapses during Amit Shah’s Bhabanipur roadshow
April 4, 2026: The Election Commission of India has suspended four Kolkata Police officers, including a Deputy Commissioner, following a law and order breakdown during a roadshow led by Amit Shah in Bhabanipur on April 2. The action came after violence broke out during the event, which coincided with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari filing his nomination from the constituency. The Commission acted after reviewing a report that flagged serious lapses in handling the situation.
Those suspended include Deputy Commissioner Siddhartha Dutta, Alipore Police Station officer-in-charge Priyankar Chakraborty, Additional OC Chandi Charan Bandyopadhyay, and sergeant Sourav Chattopadhyay. The poll body has also ordered a departmental inquiry against all four officers. It directed the state’s Chief Secretary to submit a compliance report within a strict deadline and sought details of replacements, indicating swift administrative action.
The incident has added to tensions in the high-profile Bhabanipur contest, currently represented by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The constituency is witnessing a closely watched political battle, with Adhikari also contesting from Nandigram. The violence during the roadshow has raised concerns over election-time security and policing standards in the state.