WB Polls: Plea In Calcutta High Court Flags Alleged 'Serious Misconduct' By Police Observer Who 'Unofficially' Met BJP Candidate At Hotel

A writ petition has been moved before the Calcutta High Court alleging serious misconduct by an IPS officer appointed as Police Observer for the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Elections 2026, after he allegedly held a private and undisclosed meeting with a BJP candidate within the constituency under his charge.

The petition contends that such conduct by an Election Commission-appointed observer strikes at the heart of the principles of neutrality, transparency and institutional integrity that govern the electoral process.

According to the plea, Mr. Parmar Smit Parshottamdas, IPS, who was appointed as Police Observer after replacing Shri Hari Lal Chouhan for four constituencies in South 24 Parganas, allegedly met Mr. Gour Ghosh, BJP candidate from the 142-Magrahat Paschim Assembly Constituency, which formed part of the officer's assigned jurisdiction.

The petitioners have alleged that despite being officially allotted accommodation at the IPS Mess in Alipore, the officer deviated from protocol and stayed at Sagarika Tourist Lodge, Diamond Harbour, on 20 April 2026, where the alleged meeting is said to have taken place.

The writ petition states that evidence of the meeting has been captured in CCTV footage, copies of which have been annexed with the petition.

Emphasising the role of observers during elections, the petition submits: “Despite occupying a position requiring strict neutrality and independence, he engaged in an undisclosed and unofficial meeting with a political candidate within his assigned jurisdiction.”

The plea further argues that such actions violate the standards expected of election observers and risk shaking public confidence in the fairness of the polls. It states:

“Such conduct violates established norms governing election observers, undermines the principles of neutrality, transparency, and institutional integrity, and erodes public confidence in the fairness of the electoral process.”

The petitioners have stressed that Election Commission observers are entrusted with functioning as independent monitors to ensure free and fair elections, and any private interaction with contesting candidates, particularly without disclosure, constitutes a serious breach of duty.