West Bengal MLA Ashis Banerjee Found Dead, Suicide Note Alleges False Corruption Charges

Ashis Banerjee, a prominent five-time legislator for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, was discovered dead at a party office in Birbhum district on Sunday morning. Police are treating the death as a suicide, having recovered a handwritten suicide note from the scene.

The note, written in Bengali, reportedly indicates that Banerjee felt he was being falsely accused in corruption cases. This comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which recently ended the TMC's 15-year rule in the state, alleged financial corruption involving Banerjee in the Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority.

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According to his suicide note, probably his name was maligned by the opposition party. This is a loss not just to Birbhum but to the entire West Bengal... An investigation should be held on the basis of the suicide note.

Banerjee, 75, had a long political career, serving as an associate lecturer before winning the Rampurhat assembly seat five consecutive times from 2001 to 2021. He also held positions as state agriculture minister and deputy speaker of the assembly until May 2026. Despite his past successes, he lost his seat to BJP's Dhruva Saha in the 2026 Assembly elections.

Local leaders expressed shock and grief. TMC MP Samirul Islam described Banerjee as "the most honest and highly educated person in Birbhum," suggesting his name was maligned by the opposition. BJP's Dhruva Saha, who defeated Banerjee, stated that Banerjee did not seem like someone who would commit suicide, recalling seeking his blessings after winning the election.

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I sought his blessings after winning the seat. He did not appear to be a person who would die by suicide.