THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Kolkata, June 8: Trinamool Congress strongman Jahangir Khan, popularly known as Falta’s “Pushpa”, has been arrested by the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) near the India-Nepal border, more than a month after the Assembly elections that ended the party’s 15-year rule in the state.
Khan’s arrest came after the Calcutta High Court declined to extend his interim protection. The court was informed that five police cases had been registered against him following the declaration of election results on May 4.
On Law Enforcement Radar
Khan had been under scrutiny over allegations of issuing threats and attempting election-related irregularities. A close aide of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, Khan wielded significant influence in Falta, located within the Diamond Harbour parliamentary constituency.
Known locally for branding himself as “Pushpa” after the popular Telugu film character, Khan had cultivated a strongman image in the region.
‘Singham vs Pushpa’ Face-Off
His activities had drawn the attention of IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, a Uttar Pradesh cadre officer who was posted as a special observer in Falta during the elections.
Popularly known for his “Singham” image, Sharma reportedly visited Khan’s area and warned potential troublemakers against disrupting the electoral process. In response, Khan embraced the “Pushpa” moniker, drawing comparisons with the fictional sandalwood smuggler portrayed in the film.
Falta Re-Poll and Withdrawal
Falta went to a re-poll on May 21 after allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering and other irregularities surfaced during voting on April 29. The Election Commission subsequently halted polling and ordered fresh elections.
Days before the re-poll, Khan withdrew from the contest, claiming that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had assured a special development package for the region.
“It is for this reason that I am withdrawing my nomination. I have withdrawn my candidature in the interest of Falta’s development and peace,” Khan had said.
He also stayed away from voting.
The Trinamool Congress distanced itself from his decision and accused the BJP of intimidation.
BJP Wins Seat by Record Margin
When votes were counted, BJP candidate Debangshu Panda won the Falta seat by a margin of more than one lakh votes, defeating CPM candidate Sambhu Nath Kurmi.
Khan finished a distant fourth, securing fewer than 8,000 votes.