Bengal CM says ex-TMC MLA faced no corruption case

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has said there was no corruption case against former TMC MLA Asish Banerjee, who was found dead at a party office on Sunday. Hindustan Times reports Adhikari said no notice or case was registered against Banerjee and denied police pressure played a role. A purported suicide note recovered from the office in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, said no one was responsible for his death.

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the BJP and sections of the media should reflect on the consequences of a politics where reputations are put on trial before the truth is established, as per Hindustan Times. The Times of India adds that TMC legislator Kunal Ghosh called for an impartial probe, saying Banerjee had written of mental pressure and fear of social stigma in the note. The Economic Times notes Banerjee lost his seat in the 2026 assembly elections to BJP's Dhruba Saha by over 24,000 votes.

Adhikari told Hindustan Times he spoke to Banerjee's family, who said police and local BJP leaders behaved well with them. He suggested corrupt people within the TMC might have threatened the former MLA. Police are examining the note and have sent the body for post-mortem. Local BJP MLA Dhruba Saha has called for a proper investigation into the death.