A mysterious road accident on Basanti Expressway in South 24 Parganas on Wednesday morning claimed the lives of the son and the driver of Bholanath Ghosh— a crucial witness in the CBI’s probe into alleged sexual assault and atrocities by suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman Shahjahan Sheikh, who is presently in jail, and his followers at Sandeshkhali. Ghosh himself sustained serious injuries and has been admitted to a private hospital.
The crash occurred while Ghosh was on his way to court to testify in the case, intensifying suspicion around the circumstances of the incident.
According to police, the accident took place around 9:30 am. Ghosh was travelling with his son, Satyajit, and driver, Shahanur Alam, when their vehicle collided head-on with a truck near a petrol pump and plunged into a roadside fishery. Satyajit, seated in the front, and the driver were rushed to a nearby healthcare facility, where doctors declared them dead on arrival. The truck driver fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle.
While police have launched an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the area, political tensions have escalated. Ghosh’s elder son Biswajit alleged the crash was intentional. “This is not a road accident. It was a planned attempt to kill my father because he is a key witness in the CBI case. Shahjahan’s followers had been threatening him,” he said, demanding a central agency probe.
The BJP echoed these allegations, claiming the tragedy was a premeditated attack disguised as an accident. “This is a planned murder. We had earlier said Shahjahan continues to control Sandeshkhali from jail. This incident proves it,” BJP leader Sajal Ghosh said.
Sandeshkhali, a region largely inhabited by Muslims and Dalits, gained national attention last year after hundreds of local women staged a month-long protest accusing Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides of sexual violence, land grabbing, and intimidation. The uproar intensified after Enforcement Directorate officials were attacked during a raid at Shahjahan’s residence related to a PDS scam.
The CBI took over the charge of the probe against Shahjahan and his men following a Kolkata High Court’s order last year and arrested the TMC leader.
The incident had significant political fallout. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the protesting women during a rally in Barasat, and the BJP fielded protester Rekha Patra as its Basirhat candidate in the Lok Sabha elections.
Bholanath Ghosh has been providing critical testimony in the ongoing investigation, and opposition leaders allege that Shahjahan’s network continues to exert pressure despite his imprisonment. The latest crash has amplified speculation and fear within the region.
Police are currently questioning the truck’s owner to determine the absconding driver’s identity and movements. “We are checking whether the driver escaped in another vehicle. CCTV footage from the area is being reviewed,” said a police officer.
Also read: TMC BLA arrested for threatening BLO in Sandeshkhali
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