RAMPURHAT, August 16: Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA and ex-West Bengal Deputy Speaker Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office adjoining his residence in Rampurhat on Sunday morning, with police recovering a purported suicide note that allegedly accused unnamed persons of trying to frame him in a corruption-related case.
Banerjee’s body was found hanging inside the TMC office in Hattalapara, Ward No. 5, which is attached to his residence. Police from Rampurhat police station reached the spot, recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem. An investigation is underway.
The purported note, according to reports citing its contents, denied any wrongdoing and said Banerjee had never been involved in corruption during his political career. It also allegedly claimed that a conspiracy had been underway for several days to implicate him in a case linked to the Tarapith-Rampurhat Development Authority.
The note reportedly stated that Banerjee had no role in key administrative decisions, including the signing of certain documents. Police are treating the note as an important piece of evidence as they investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
The reported note also ends with a statement that no one should be held responsible for his death. However, allegations from members of his family have raised questions over what may have preceded the incident.
Banerjee’s sister-in-law, Deepa Banerjee, alleged that repeated corruption accusations had subjected him to severe mental pressure and said she did not believe he had died by suicide.
“He could not accept such defamation. They kept accusing a professor of corruption. This is not suicide—he has been killed,” she alleged.
His brother, Prashanta Banerjee, said the former MLA had appeared normal before his death, but suggested he may have been facing pressure that was not visible to the family.
“He appeared normal. But perhaps he was suffering internally. There must have been pressure from somewhere that led to this,” he said.
Family sources said Banerjee had remained cheerful and was speaking to people until late Saturday night, making his death particularly shocking.
The incident came a day after Banerjee attended a local Independence Day programme and hoisted the Tricolour.
Banerjee, a veteran politician from Birbhum district, represented the Rampurhat Assembly constituency for five consecutive terms from 2001 until 2026. He lost the seat to BJP’s Dhruba Saha in the 2026 Assembly elections and had subsequently reduced his involvement in active politics.
During his political career, Banerjee held several important positions in the West Bengal government, including Agriculture and School Education portfolios, and served as Deputy Speaker of the state Legislative Assembly from 2021.
He was also associated with the TMC’s Birbhum district leadership and served as chairman of the party’s district core committee.
Banerjee began his political career in student politics with the Congress before joining the TMC. Before entering full-time politics, he worked as an associate professor at Rampurhat College.
Reports citing the purported note said Banerjee expressed regret over entering politics and advised his family members to stay away from political life.
Police are examining the note, the circumstances at the scene and other evidence as part of the investigation. The post-mortem report and further findings are expected to shed light on the circumstances of the former MLA’s death.
