Trinamool Congress leader Jahangir Khan, popularly known as ‘Pushpa’, has been arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) near the Nepal border after remaining absconding for several weeks. He was taken into custody in connection with multiple FIRs registered against him, including allegations of tampering with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the West Bengal Assembly elections in the Falta constituency of South 24 Parganas.

According to the allegations, tapes were placed on BJP symbols on EVMs, leading to serious concerns about the fairness of the voting process. Following several complaints and reports of irregularities, the Election Commission ordered a repoll in the Falta Assembly constituency. The decision came just two days before the declaration of the Assembly election results.

While results for 293 Assembly seats in West Bengal were announced on May 4, voting in Falta was cancelled by the Election Commission. The poll body cited “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process” as the reason behind the decision.

Several complaints were reported from polling booths in Falta. These included allegations of voter intimidation and EVM tampering, with claims that opposition candidates’ names were blocked on voting machines. The Election Commission also noted that inadequate CCTV footage made it difficult to verify whether the polling process had been conducted fairly.

Jahangir Khan had gained attention during the election period after adopting the nickname ‘Pushpa’. The name was used in reference to police observer Ajay Pal Sharma, who is popularly known as ‘Singham’. After Sharma visited Khan’s residence ahead of the elections and warned his family members against intimidating voters, Khan responded by saying, “If he is Singham, then I am Pushpa.”

Investigators said Khan was arrested near the Nepal border while allegedly attempting to leave the country. He had remained on the run for weeks after several cases were registered against him. At present, he is facing at least seven FIRs lodged at the Falta police station.

His arrest came shortly after the Calcutta High Court refused to extend legal protection that had earlier shielded him from arrest. The court had granted interim relief on May 18, allowing him to contest the Falta Assembly repoll held on May 21. The results of the repoll were declared on May 24.

Although the interim protection enabled him to participate in the repoll, Khan remained largely out of public view. He resurfaced only a few days before the election and attempted to reopen his office, which had been vandalised after the Trinamool Congress suffered a major setback in the Assembly elections. However, he later withdrew from the contest at the last moment.

Following his withdrawal, BJP candidate Debangshu Panda emerged victorious in the Falta Assembly seat. He won the election by a margin of more than one lakh votes. The Falta Assembly constituency falls under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, which is currently represented by Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee.

The arrest of Jahangir Khan marks a significant development in the Falta election controversy, which drew widespread attention due to allegations of electoral malpractice, voter intimidation and EVM tampering. The case continues to remain under investigation as authorities examine the complaints and allegations linked to the constituency.