A tragic incident has emerged from West Bengal's Birbhum district, where veteran Trinamool Congress politician Ashish Banerjee was found dead inside his home office on Sunday. The body of the former state minister and five-time MLA was discovered hanging at his residence in Rampurhat. Upon receiving news of the discovery, police officers arrived at the location, secured the scene, and dispatched the body for a formal post-mortem examination as part of an ongoing investigation.
Suicide Note Details Political Career and Refutes Corruption Charges
Investigators recovered a suicide note near the body in which the senior leader addressed his decades-long journey in public life and responded directly to allegations of financial wrongdoing. Reflecting on his early background, Banerjee recounted how his political career commenced during his student days. Known to be a close associate of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he firmly denied any involvement in corrupt practices, describing all accusations levelled against him as baseless and untrue.
Clarification on Roles at Tarapith Development Authority
In his letter, the former lawmaker devoted specific attention to the Tarapith-Rampurhat Development Authority to clarify his operational standing. He emphasized that he held no actual executive powers or financial authority within the organization. Beyond attending general organizational meetings, he asserted that he had never approved any development project or signed any financial cheques. Consequently, he maintained that claims linking him to irregular practices were entirely without merit.
Police Probe and Political Legacy
Local law enforcement authorities stated that they are investigating the matter from all possible perspectives to establish the precise sequence of events leading to his death. Police added that official findings would depend on forensic analysis and the post-mortem report. Ashish Banerjee was a prominent political figure in West Bengal, having previously served as the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and held ministerial responsibilities in the Mamata Banerjee administration. His sudden demise has sent shockwaves across the region and sparked widespread grief among party supporters.
