Inspector Gautam Das shifted to Nabanna after controversy over viral firearm photograph

The West Bengal government has transferred Kolkata Police Inspector Gautam Das, who was serving in the South Division, and assigned him duties at the Chief Minister’s Office in Nabanna until further orders. The transfer comes months after he was involved in controversy over a photograph featuring him holding an automatic firearm while in uniform.

Gautam Das had earlier served as the Officer-in-Charge of Kalighat Police Station during the Assembly election period. A photograph circulated on social media showed him seated inside the police station in official uniform while holding an advanced firearm. The image triggered political controversy after objections were raised by the Trinamool Congress before the Election Commission.

Following complaints regarding the social media post, Lalbazar removed Gautam Das from the post of Kalighat Police Station OC and suspended him from duty. The suspension was later withdrawn. According to the sequence of events, the controversial image had been uploaded earlier this month along with the caption, “Ready for a new assignment.”

Trinamool leader Jay Prakash Majumdar subsequently wrote to the Election Commission, the Kolkata Police Commissioner and the office of the Chief Electoral Officer regarding the matter. During the election period, the post of Kalighat Police Station OC underwent multiple changes, and Gautam Das was among the officers appointed to the position by the Election Commission.

Gautam Das belongs to the 2008 batch of Sub-Inspectors and was recently promoted to the rank of Inspector. During polling, he had been deployed at several sensitive booths in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency under the jurisdiction of Kalighat Police Station. After revocation of his suspension, he has now been deputed directly to the Chief Minister’s Office at Nabanna.