TMC's Jahangir 'Pushpa' Khan arrested near Nepal border after weeks in hiding
Jahangir Khan, accused in multiple cases including alleged EVM tampering during the Bengal Assembly elections, was arrested after weeks on the run while trying to flee India.
Jahangir Khan, the Trinamool Congress candidate who pulled out of the Falta repoll last month, was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) near the Nepal border in connection with multiple FIRs, including allegations of tampering with EVMs by applying tapes on BJP symbols on the EVMs in the South 24 Parganas constituency.
Due to several irregularities and complaints, the Election Commission ordered repolling in the Falta Assembly constituency just two days before the Assembly election results.
While the results for 293 seats in Bengal were announced on May 4, the central poll body cancelled the voting in Falta Assembly constituency, citing “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process.”
Cases of voter intimidation and alleged tampering with EVMs, including blocking opposition candidates’ names, were reported across booths in Falta. Inadequate CCTV footage also made it impossible to verify the fairness of the polling process.
Jahangir, who had adopted the moniker 'Pushpa' as a challenge to police observer Ajay Pal Sharma, known as 'Singham', was arrested by the Bengal STF near the Nepal border while allegedly attempting to flee India after weeks on the run.
“If he is Singham, then I am Pushpa,” Khan had said after Sharma visited his house ahead of the polls and warned family members against intimidating voters on election day.
Jahangir is facing at least seven FIRs registered at the Falta police station.
His arrest came after the Calcutta High Court refused to extend relief and withdrew the interim protection from arrest that had earlier been granted to the Trinamool Congress leader.
The interim relief was granted to Jahangir on May 18 to enable him to contest the Falta Assembly repoll held on May 21, the results of which were declared on May 24.
However, Jahangir -- whose office was vandalised after his party suffered a crushing defeat in the May 4 Assembly election -- resurfaced only days before the repoll and attempted to reopen his office, before eventually withdrawing from the contest at the last minute.
BJP candidate Debangshu Panda went on to win the Falta Assembly seat by a margin of more than one lakh votes. Falta falls under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, of which Abhishek Banerjee is the incumbent MP.
Jahangir Khan, the Trinamool Congress candidate who pulled out of the Falta repoll last month, was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) near the Nepal border in connection with multiple FIRs, including allegations of tampering with EVMs by applying tapes on BJP symbols on the EVMs in the South 24 Parganas constituency.
Due to several irregularities and complaints, the Election Commission ordered repolling in the Falta Assembly constituency just two days before the Assembly election results.
While the results for 293 seats in Bengal were announced on May 4, the central poll body cancelled the voting in Falta Assembly constituency, citing “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process.”
Cases of voter intimidation and alleged tampering with EVMs, including blocking opposition candidates’ names, were reported across booths in Falta. Inadequate CCTV footage also made it impossible to verify the fairness of the polling process.
Jahangir, who had adopted the moniker 'Pushpa' as a challenge to police observer Ajay Pal Sharma, known as 'Singham', was arrested by the Bengal STF near the Nepal border while allegedly attempting to flee India after weeks on the run.
“If he is Singham, then I am Pushpa,” Khan had said after Sharma visited his house ahead of the polls and warned family members against intimidating voters on election day.
Jahangir is facing at least seven FIRs registered at the Falta police station.
His arrest came after the Calcutta High Court refused to extend relief and withdrew the interim protection from arrest that had earlier been granted to the Trinamool Congress leader.
The interim relief was granted to Jahangir on May 18 to enable him to contest the Falta Assembly repoll held on May 21, the results of which were declared on May 24.
However, Jahangir -- whose office was vandalised after his party suffered a crushing defeat in the May 4 Assembly election -- resurfaced only days before the repoll and attempted to reopen his office, before eventually withdrawing from the contest at the last minute.
BJP candidate Debangshu Panda went on to win the Falta Assembly seat by a margin of more than one lakh votes. Falta falls under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, of which Abhishek Banerjee is the incumbent MP.
