‘Had dinner with us, showed no stress’: Ex-TMC MLA Ashis Banerjee’s brother recalls his final hours

Former Trinamool Congress MLA Ashis Banerjee was found dead early Sunday morning at the TMC party office in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, West Bengal. His brother, Prasanta Banerjee, who discovered the body, stated that Ashis had dinner with the family the previous night and exhibited no signs of stress. "There was nothing abnormal in his behaviour. We cannot believe that he died by suicide," Prasanta said.

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There was nothing abnormal in his behaviour. We cannot believe that he died by suicide.

Ashis Banerjee, a five-time MLA and a close associate of TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee, was found hanging inside the party office. Police reported that the room's doors were locked from the inside, requiring them to break one down to enter. A purported suicide note was recovered from the scene.

According to officials, the note, allegedly written by Banerjee on his letterhead, asserted his innocence regarding corruption charges and claimed efforts were being made to tarnish his image. He reportedly stated he was not involved in the tender process at the Tarapith-Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA). The note also expressed regret over entering politics and mentioned an inability to protest against perceived wrongdoings within the party.

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When police reached the TMC party office they found both doors to the room locked from inside. They broke a door and entered the room.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had recently accused Banerjee of involvement in financial corruption detected at the TRDA. The investigation into the circumstances of his death is ongoing, with police treating it as a suspected suicide based on the preliminary findings and the recovered note.

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The note, apparently written by Banerjee on his letterhead, says he was never involved in any corruption and that efforts were being made to tarnish his image. The note said he was not involved in the tender process at TRDA.