Asish Banerjee Death: Explosive Suicide Note Denies Corruption Claims

Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, former West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker, and five-time MLA Asish Banerjee was found hanging inside a party office near his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning. The death of the veteran politician, long regarded as a trusted confidant of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has sent shockwaves through West Bengal's political landscape, prompting local police to launch an immediate investigation.

Shortly after the discovery of his body, a handwritten suicide note surfaced on social media, shared by TMC spokesperson Nilanjan Das. In the note, Banerjee maintained his absolute innocence, claiming that corruption allegations leveled against him were completely baseless and part of a political conspiracy to malign his public image.

Emotional Note Refutes TRDA Corruption Allegations

Reflecting on his decades-long career, the former minister wrote that he had remained untainted by financial dishonesty since his entry into active politics as General Secretary of the Burdwan University Students' Union. He emphasized that despite holding senior government posts, he never lusted after power or position.

Addressing specific corruption claims regarding the Tarakeswar Development Authority (TRDA), Banerjee clarified that his role was strictly limited to attending general meetings. He noted that he held no seat on the transfer committee, lacked any authority to issue or sign cheques, and had never cleared building plans or issued NOCs. He alleged that false claims were engineered solely to destroy his reputation.

Advice To Youth And Final Farewell

Drawing upon his background as a teacher, Banerjee directed a poignant message to college students, warning them about the changing nature of public life. He cautioned that politics was turning into a battlefield and urged young people to stay away from political rivalries, focus on their studies, maintain discipline, and strive to become good human beings.

Expressing deep distress over unearned suspicion, Banerjee wrote that he was folding up his life's nest with heavy heart. He urged his family members to remain calm, stay courageous, and continue walking the path of truth, explicitly stating that no single individual should be held responsible for his decision to end his life.

A Storied Career Ends In Tragedy

Banerjee was a dominant figure in Birbhum politics since the inception of the Trinamool Congress. He represented the Rampurhat assembly constituency for five consecutive terms, winning elections in 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021. During Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's tenure, he held key ministerial portfolios, serving as the state's Education Minister and Agriculture Minister before taking over as Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

However, Banerjee suffered a setback earlier this year when he lost the Rampurhat seat to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Dhruva Saha. Associates noted he had kept a low public profile following the electoral defeat. Police have taken custody of the body, sent it for a formal post-mortem examination, and secured the scene to investigate all aspects surrounding the death.