BJP Leader Arrested Over Alleged Prostitution Racket; Saffron Party Denies Link

Kolkata: West Bengal police on Friday arrested BJP’s Sabyasachi Ghosh for allegedly running a prostitution racket in his hotel.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has been under constant attack from the BJP and other Opposition parties over Sandeshkhali — where several women have accused TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides of sexual exploitation and land-grabbing — hit back at the saffron party, accusing it of “protecting pimps”, and not women.

“BJP leader Sabyasachi Ghosh caught running a PROSTITUTION RACKET of MINOR GIRLS in his hotel in Howrah’s Sankrail. The Police arrested 11 accused & rescued 6 victims from the spot. THIS IS BJP. They don’t protect BETIS, they protect PIMPS!” TMC wrote in a post on its official X handle.

However, BJP said Ghosh doesn’t hold any post in the party.

“It has come to our attention that WB Police has arrested one Sabyasachi Ghosh, on charges of running a prostitution racket in Howrah and claims that he is a BJP leader. BJP West Bengal denies having any association with the accused. We wish to put on record that Sabyasachi Ghosh holds no position in the party,” the statement read.

While CM Mamata Banerjee’s party stepped up the attack on BJP, the saffron party said it was an attempt by the state government to divert attention from Sandeshkhali issue, which has been making national headlines for weeks.

A delegation of female BJP leaders and activists was prevented from visiting the restive village in North 24 Parganas district earlier in the day.

“We were denied entry to Sandeshkhali by the police citing prohibitory orders. The state government is trying to hide the truth,” claimed BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul.

Women of Sandeshkhali came out with allegations against TMC leaders soon after Shahjahan went into hiding. The local TMC leader has been the most sought-after person since an Enforcement Directorate team — which was on way to Shahjahan’s house — was attacked last month.

Shahjahan has been absconding for 50 days.