Jahangir Khan, a leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the party’s former candidate from West Bengal’s Falta Assembly constituency, was arrested Monday near India’s border with Nepal, according to local media reports.
Police detained Khan in northern West Bengal as investigators pursued allegations linked to voting irregularities during the second phase of the state election. Officers quoted by The Telegraph said Khan was suspected of attempting to leave the country.
The arrest follows weeks of controversy surrounding the Falta constituency, where the Election Commission ordered a fresh vote after citing serious violations and concerns that the electoral process had been compromised.
Polling in Falta was originally conducted on April 29. Following complaints of widespread irregularities, the Election Commission on May 2 directed authorities to hold a re-poll. The repeat election took place on May 21, and ballots were counted three days later.
Just before campaigning ended for the re-poll, Khan announced that he was withdrawing from the race. He said the decision was made in the interest of local development and public welfare after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a special package for the constituency.
According to The Hindu newspaper, Khan had not been publicly seen since the re-poll was conducted. The TMC later said his withdrawal was a personal choice and did not reflect the party’s position.
The constituency was eventually won by BJP candidate Debangshu Panda, who secured victory by a margin of more than 100,000 votes.
An inquiry by the Election Commission found evidence that voting machines had been tampered with in at least 60 of Falta’s 285 polling stations during the original election, according to official findings.
The BJP defeated the TMC in the state election on May 4, bringing an end to the 15-year rule of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party.
After the change in government, several residents of Falta accused Khan of involvement in land-grab and extortion activities, The Hindu reported. Authorities have not yet disclosed the complete list of charges he may face.
Khan’s arrest came after the Calcutta High Court withdrew interim protection that had shielded him from immediate arrest. Earlier, on May 18, the court had directed police not to take coercive action against him until the re-polling process was completed, provided he cooperated with ongoing investigations into criminal complaints filed against him.
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