Kunal Ghosh

Some Lesser Known Facts About Kunal Ghosh

• Kunal Ghosh grew up in Kolkata.

  

• He passed his class 10 examinations in 1985.

• Kunal initially worked as a journalist and editor for some Bengali-language news channels like Channel 10. He hosted the show ‘Ek Phone Ek Lakh’ (aka 1 Phone 1 Lakh) on Channel 10.

  

• He once worked as a ‘message editor’ for Prabaha, the first private news magazine in Bengal.

• His first story was published in Anandabazar Patrika, a Bengali newspaper. He went on to contribute to various publications like Aajkal’s Khela Patrika.

• Kunal later joined the Saradha group and was soon appointed as the chief executive officer.

• He then became a senior editor at Sangbad Pratidin.

  

• He served as a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, from 3 April 2012 to 2 April 2018.

• In 2013, Kunal was named as one of the accused in the Saradha Chit Fund Case. During the investigation, he reportedly returned Rs. 2.67 crores to the ED that he earned from Saradha Group as salary and advances. He had arranged the amount from his savings, loans from friends, and LIC policy.

  

• After being arrested in the Saradha Chit Fund Case, Kunal accused the AITC party of their involvement in the case. In 2014, Kunal tried to commit suicide by consuming sleeping pills in jail, where he was held for 34 months.

• Kunal drew inspiration from Mamata Banerjee and became an MP in 2012. In 2019, he used his MP funds to inaugurate a bridge over the Dharla River at Dinhata in Cooch Behar, West Bengal. He named the bridge Mamata Setu in honour of Mamata Banerjee.

  

• Kunal was appointed as the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) spokesperson in July 2020.

  

• In June 2021, he was appointed as the general secretary of AITC.

• In 2024, Ghosh lost his position as the spokesperson of the AITC party for criticising the choice of certain party leaders for the Lok Sabha polls.

• Kunal has often been a key figure in AITC discussions. He is considered to have a close relationship with politician Abhishek Banerjee, whom he has frequently supported in various matters.

  

• He has authored many novels in Bengali-language. His first novel ‘Upanyas Samagra’ was published in 2022.  Kunal has written books about his life experiences, including his arrest in the 2013 Saradha Chit Fund Case.

  

• On 1 May 2024, Kunal was removed from the position of AITC’s general secretary after being seen at a blood donation event in Kolkata with a BJP candidate named Tapas Roy, who had earlier left AITC party. At the event, he appreciated Roy and made some statements that did not align with the AITC’s beliefs. The party warned media not to link his views with theirs or else a legal action might be taken.

• Kunal is an avid animal lover and often posts pictures with them.

  

• He is passionate about sports and is often seen playing games like badminton and cricket.

  

• Kunal loves travelling. He frequently shares his travelling experiences on social media.