How did traffic cop track cell of murder victim? CP orders probe
Times of India | 14 September 2026Gupta’s arrest revealed that he had allegedly supplied the accused with cell-tower locations and call records at the behest of Beliaghata Traffic Guard civic volunteer Twinkle Das, who allegedly maintained contact with the killers. A traffic sergeant in Kolkata Police is not authorised to access or provide such data. After the matter came to light, Nand ordered the internal probe. The local traffic guard has completed its preliminary inquiry and submitted its findings to Lalbazar. The police headquarters is now seeking to fix responsibility and ascertain whether anyone else was involved.
Senior officers at Lalbazar said the top brass was closely monitoring the probe. Nand also confirmed to TOI via text message that the inquiry was underway, though he did not provide details.
Investigators have learnt that Gupta allegedly supplied businessman Nikhil’s mobile tower location to Raghav, who is suspected to be the mastermind behind the murder. Twinkle, said to be a close associate of Raghav, has also been arrested.
According to police sources, Gupta, a Parnasree resident, acted on requests from Twinkle, who lives in the Chaulpatti Road area. Gupta allegedly accessed Nikhil’s mobile tower location multiple times and passed the information to Raghav. Police suspect the location data was used to track Nikhil and plan his killing.
Only authorised investigating officers in the Detective Department — including those attached to the Cyber Crime Branch or assigned to specific cases — and specialised technical units such as the Kolkata Police’s Special Task Force can officially seek and access mobile tower location data from telecom service providers, and only after obtaining the requisite legal permissions.
“Ordinary citizens — and not even traffic police personnel — can directly request mobile tower logs or location-tracking data because of privacy and legal restrictions,” said a senior officer.
Last Thursday, a Jharkhand Police team summoned Gupta and Twinkle to Lalbazar, where they were questioned at length by officers of the Detective Department. Sources said the entire interrogation was videographed. They were subsequently informed of their arrest.
On Aug 24, businessman Nikhil was shot dead in front of a hotel along NH 33 in the Chandil police station area. Police said the attackers fired around nine rounds, hitting him in the shoulder, back and neck. He was taken in critical condition to a hospital in Jamshedpur, where doctors declared him dead.
Although the case initially appeared to stem from business rivalry, the probe increasingly pointed to a contract killing.
Police suspect the shooters were paid nearly Rs 15 lakh. Investigators are now focusing on the alleged illegal sharing of mobile location data.
