Former IPS officer of West Bengal Bharati Ghosh joins BJP

Bharati Ghosh, former IPS officer of West Bengal, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday. Ghosh, who was the West Midnapore superintendent of police for more than six years, was transferred as commandant of the third battalion of the state armed police on December 26 last year. She resigned from service two days later. She was once considered close to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and was also awarded a service medal on August 15, 2014. Ghosh was transferred twice, once by the Election Commission before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the second time by the state itself before the 2016 Assembly elections. She was, however, reinstated as West Midnapore SP as soon as the elections got over on both occasions.

 An arrest warrant was also issued against Ghosh in connection with an extortion case registered at Daspur police station in West Midnapore district, following her resignation.

The CID, probing cases relating to alleged extortion and misconduct against Ghosh, had also conducted raids at various properties, including a house in Kolkata that belongs to her husband Raju.

In August least year, the West Bengal CID arrested MAV Raju, Ghosh, after the Calcutta High Court rejected his anticipatory prayer.Raju had been given interim respite by another division bench in February when he moved the court with his prayer. The court had then restrained CID from arresting him till disposal of his anticipatory bail plea and had directed him to cooperate with the investigators.

Raju's counsel had earlier submitted that he was being harassed as he was the husband of Ghosh. The CID, probing cases relating to alleged extortion and misconduct against Ghosh, had also conducted raids at various properties, including a house in Kolkata that belongs to her husband Raju.