The body of Sanjay Das, a 50-year-old councillor of the South Dum Dum Municipality on the northern outskirts of Kolkata, was found hanging inside his room on Saturday, police officials said.
Das, who served as chairman-in-council of the civic body and represented Ward No. 18 of the municipality, lived in the Nagerbazar area of north Kolkata.
Following the discovery, he was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Police officials stated that preliminary findings suggest the incident appears to be a case of death by suicide, although investigators have not yet recovered any suicide note confirming the circumstances surrounding his death.
A case of unnatural death has been registered at Nagerbazar Police Station, and further investigation is currently underway.
Authorities said the body would be handed over to family members after completion of the mandatory post-mortem examination.
The incident triggered shock and grief among Das’s supporters, associates, and local residents, many of whom gathered outside the hospital premises after news of his death spread.
Political observers noted that Sanjay Das was widely considered a close associate of Debraj Chakraborty, a Bidhannagar-based councillor of the Trinamool Congress and husband of former MLA Aditi Munshi.
The death comes amid mounting political and legal scrutiny surrounding alleged recruitment scams and financial irregularities involving several leaders linked to the ruling TMC in West Bengal.
Just a day before Das’s death, Debraj Chakraborty and Aditi Munshi had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with a disproportionate assets case registered by the Bidhannagar City Police.
Chakraborty had also previously been questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation in relation to the alleged primary school recruitment scam in West Bengal.
Over the past several days, multiple TMC councillors believed to be close to Chakraborty have reportedly been arrested in separate cases involving allegations of extortion, assault, intimidation, and other criminal offences.
The controversy surrounding South Dum Dum Municipality has further intensified after former TMC minister Sujit Bose was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 11 in connection with an alleged recruitment scam linked to the municipality.
The ED had subsequently registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Bose.
Additionally, former municipal chairperson Panchu Roy has also reportedly been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate regarding alleged irregularities in civic recruitment.
Sources close to Sanjay Das claimed that he had appeared mentally disturbed and depressed over the past few days, although they were unable to identify any specific reason behind his emotional condition.
Reacting to the incident, BJP leader and minister Agnimitra Paul alleged that the deceased had close links with Debraj Chakraborty and was involved in syndicate operations allegedly run by him.
“We don't wish for anybody's death,” Paul said while reacting to the development.
She further stated that people associated with the TMC who feared public anger would receive police protection, but added that those allegedly involved in post-poll violence during the earlier TMC government should still be held accountable.
The death of Sanjay Das has now intensified political tensions in West Bengal, especially at a time when multiple investigations involving recruitment scams, disproportionate assets, money laundering allegations, and civic body irregularities are already placing several senior and mid-level TMC leaders under scrutiny.
