2021 Bengal post-poll violence case: CBI charge sheets TMC MLA, two councillors

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named one Trinamool Congress MLA, and two councillors in its chargesheet while probing the murder of a Bhartiya Janata Party worker in Kolkata during the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal. This comes almost four years after the incident where Abhijit Sarkar, a BJP worker was killed. 

TMC MLA Paresh Pal from Beliaghata Constituency and two city councillors Swapan Samaddar (Ward 58) and Papiya Ghosh (Ward 30) have been named in the supplementary chargesheet by CBI who took over the investigation in August 2021 after Calcutta High Court order. The primary investigation was started by Narkeldanga Police Station in Kolkata. 

The central agency has named 18 additional people in this chargesheet which was submitted before a court in Sealdah, on June 30. 

“During the course of investigation, the State Police (Homicide Squad, Detective Department, Kolkata) filed a chargesheet on 06.08.2021 against 15 accused persons. Subsequently, after taking over the investigation, the CBI filed a supplementary charge sheet on 30.09.2021 before Ld. ACJM, Sealdah, against 20 accused persons, including the 15 previously chargesheet by the State Police. Further investigation was kept open under Section 173(8) IPC,” an official statement from the central agency said on July 2.  

CBI officials said they seized multiple CCTV footage during the course of the investigation, questioned eyewitnesses, and the family of the deceased. 

BJP worker Avijit Sarkar was killed during post-election violence in Kankurgachhi on May 2, 2021. 

A week back, the prime accused in the case Arun Dey was arrested by CBI officials after a tip off. He was on the wanted list of the CBI and a bounty of Rs 50,000 was announced by the officials. CBI officials had stated that Dey actively participated in the murder of Mr Sarkar. Dey was on the run for the last four years. 

According to the CBI, 20 people were named in the initial FIR, and charges have been framed against all of them. 

“To see the CBI chargesheet after so many years, we feel relief,” BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar said. He also accused that only barbarics can engage in this type of violence which kills someone. 

However, TMC spokesperson and former Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh called fowl. “This is a politically motivated chargesheet. Right before the 2026 Assembly elections, the CBI filed this under BJP’s pressure. 

The family of deceased Mr Sarkar said that this is only a partial win. They said until all the accused are arrested, they will not get complete justice.