The Calcutta High Court on May 18, permitted Jahangir Khan to contest the re-election in West Bengal’s Falta Assembly constituency despite multiple FIRs registered against him. The court also directed police not to take any coercive action against the TMC leader until May 24, while instructing him to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation into allegations linked to political violence and voter intimidation.
The interim relief was granted by Justice Saugata Bhattacharya, who observed that there had been a “prima facie change in the political scenario” in the state after the Assembly election results declared on May 4. The re-election in the Falta constituency is scheduled for May 21 after the Election Commission reportedly cancelled the earlier election over allegations of widespread malpractice, booth capturing and intimidation.
Jahangir Khan had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking disclosure of all FIRs registered against him and protection from arrest or coercive police action ahead of the re-poll. The TMC leader argued that multiple criminal cases were being filed against him during the election period with political motives.
During the hearing, Deputy Solicitor General Dhiraj Trivedi submitted before the court that serious allegations of booth capturing and voter intimidation had been levelled against the All India Trinamool Congress and its candidate Jahangir Khan during the previous election process in Falta.
However, Justice Bhattacharya questioned whether it had been conclusively established that Jahangir Khan was directly involved in booth capturing or voter intimidation. In response, the Deputy Solicitor General reportedly argued that such involvement “has to be assumed” based on the prevailing circumstances.
The court, while granting temporary protection, clarified that the relief did not mean that all criminal proceedings against Jahangir Khan would be halted. Instead, the police and investigating agencies would continue their probe, while Khan would be allowed to contest the election subject to his cooperation with authorities.
“If we direct him to cooperate, then allow him to contest the election… given that he contested the voided election from Falta and the Election Commission decided to hold a re-poll, he should be allowed to contest again. That does not mean proceedings will stop. Subject to cooperation by Khan, no coercive steps should be taken till the election is concluded. After all, this is a democratic country. Let the democratic spirit be upheld,” the court observed.
The court further noted that a significant number of FIRs against Jahangir Khan appeared to have been lodged after May 4 and May 10, following the change in the political situation in West Bengal.
The Falta constituency in South 24 Parganas district has remained tense in recent weeks amid allegations of political intimidation and violence. Earlier this month, residents in the Hasimnagar area reportedly staged protests accusing TMC cadres of threatening villagers and BJP supporters ahead of vote counting.
Several locals alleged that TMC workers harassed women, assaulted villagers and threatened political opponents. A local woman claimed that Jahangir Khan had personally threatened residents by allegedly warning that if the TMC returned to power, “women would be raped and people killed.”
According to residents, protests erupted after alleged inaction against those accused of intimidation. Demonstrators blocked roads demanding arrests, following which police allegedly resorted to lathi-charge, including on women protesters, resulting in injuries and hospitalisation of several people.
The political controversy intensified further after the arrest of Saidul Khan, vice-president of the Falta Panchayat Samiti and a close aide of Jahangir Khan, on May 16. He has been accused of threatening BJP leaders and activists in the area.
The Falta re-election is now expected to take place under heightened political scrutiny and security arrangements, with both the BJP and TMC accusing each other of intimidation, violence and electoral malpractice.
