Pamela Goswami: All you need to know about West Bengal BJP leader arrested with cocaine

BJP youth-wing leader Pamela Goswami was on Friday arrested with cocaine worth lakhs of rupees from south Kolkata's upscale New Alipore area, police said.

After the news of the arrest broke in, the name of the BJP leader started to trend on Twitter.

Goswami is the state secretary of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Social worker and politician. She joined the party in 2019. Before joining BJP, the leader was a model, air hostess and then went on to become a Bengali television actress.

She has been spotted at several BJP rallies in the state and uploads photos of the events. Recently she had posted a picture with BJP Yuva Morcha national president Tejashwi Surya on Facebook. Goswami was also present during the 'Parakram Diwas' celebrations held at the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata to commemorate Subhash Chandra Bose's 125th birth anniversary.

Goswami, along with a friend identified as Prabir Kumar Dey, was in her car when both of them were nabbed, they said.

Around 100 gm of cocaine "worth a few lakh of rupees" was found in her handbag, and other parts of the car, police claimed.

Pamela is a young girl. If she has done anything wrong, the law will take its courseBJP MP Locket Chatterjee

Acting on a tip-off, sleuths of the New Alipore police station made the arrests when she was parking the vehicle, an officer said.

"She was involved in drug trafficking for quite some time. Today, we got information that she, along with her supplier Prabir, was reaching the spot to hand over the drugs to the purchasers," he said.

A team of policemen in eight vehicles surrounded Goswami's car and apprehended her, he said.

The BJP youth-wing leader's security guard, who was inside the same vehicle, was also arrested, the police officer said.

"An investigation into the matter is underway. We are trying to find out whether she is involved in any drug racket," he said.

'Law should take its course'

The BJP said it suspected that Goswami was being framed, but added that if she is found guilty, the law should take its course.

"We had earlier seen that the state police had named several BJP activists in arms cases. I do not have much information about this incident that is why I will not be able to say more. Pamela is a young girl. If she has done anything wrong, the law will take its course," BJP MP Locket Chatterjee said.

West Bengal BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, "I do not know whether this is planted. The model code of conduct is yet to come into effect and the police is still under the state government. So, anything can be possible."

The ruling Trinamool Congress, meanwhile, slammed the saffron party and said it was a shame that even women from its fold were found involved in such illegal acts.

"Earlier, we saw the involvement of several BJP leaders in child trafficking, and now drug trafficking. They cannot cry conspiracy every time," Bengal minister and senior TMC leader Chandrima Bhattacharya said.

(With inputs from PTI)