Calcutta High Court revokes TMC leader Jahangir Khan’s interim protection from arrest

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday revoked the interim protection from arrest granted to TMC leader from Falta, Jahangir Khan.

Ahead of the Falta re-poll, Calcutta High Court had granted Khan protection from arrest until May 26.

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However, the summer vacation bench of Justice Partha Sarathi Sen of the Calcutta High Court did not extend his protection again.

Khan was up against BJP candidate Debangshu Panda in Falta in what had turned into a battle of prestige between CM Suvendu Adhikari and TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee.

However, just two days before the polls, TMC candidate Jahangir Khan announced that he is withdrawing from the May 21 poll, citing a special package announced by Chief Minister Adhikari for the constituency.

“I am the son of Falta and I want Falta to be at peace and grow. Our CM Suvendu Adhikari is giving a special package for the development of Falta, which is why I am separating myself from the re-polling of the constituency,” Khan had said while announcing the decision.

The BJP won the seat decisively with a margin of over one lakh votes.

The TMC had strongly condemned Khan’s decision to withdraw from the Falta repoll, saying the leader succumbed under pressure.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party accused the BJP of intimidating its workers and the Election Commission of India of turning a blind eye despite repeated complaints.

The party further suggested that Khan succumbed to the BJP pressure and chose to step away from the field while TMC workers continued to resist the saffron party’s intimidation.