Falta TMC Leader Jahangir Khan Arrested Near Nepal Border After Days Of Absconding

In a significant development, the Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police on Monday arrested Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Jahangir Khan near the Nepal border after days of tracking his movements.

Khan, who became a controversial figure during the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections and the subsequent repoll in Falta, had reportedly been absconding for several weeks.

Police suspect that he was attempting to leave the country through the Nepal border when he was intercepted during an early morning operation based on specific intelligence inputs.

Arrest Followed Intelligence-Led Operation

According to police sources, the STF had been monitoring Khan's movements after he disappeared from public view following the Falta repoll and election results.
Acting on fresh intelligence regarding his location near the Nepal border, a special team launched an operation and successfully took him into custody.

Authorities are expected to question him in connection with multiple criminal cases currently under investigation.

Seven FIRs Registered Against Khan

Reports indicate that seven FIRs have been registered against Jahangir Khan at Falta Police Station in South 24 Parganas district.
The cases span several years and are currently being investigated by law enforcement agencies.

After the election results were announced, Khan was reportedly missing from both his residence and local party offices, leading to speculation about his whereabouts.
His arrest has now brought an end to weeks of uncertainty surrounding his location.

High Court Protection Came To An End

The arrest came shortly after the Calcutta High Court declined to extend interim protection from arrest granted to Khan in multiple cases.

Earlier, the court had provided temporary protection until May 26, taking into consideration the repoll that was scheduled in Falta on May 21.
Khan had approached the court claiming that multiple criminal cases were being filed against him and sought protection from coercive action.

However, once the interim protection expired and was not extended further, police were free to proceed with legal action.

The 'Pushpa' Remark That Grabbed Headlines

Jahangir Khan became a widely discussed political figure during the election campaign because of a dramatic comparison he made involving the popular film character Pushpa.
After law enforcement agencies conducted searches at his residence before the elections, Khan publicly compared himself to the character portrayed by actor Allu Arjun in the blockbuster Pushpa films.

Declaring that he would not bow down, Khan reportedly said that if others considered themselves lions, then he was "Pushpa" and would not surrender.

His "Jhukega Nahi" remark quickly became one of the most talked-about political slogans during the election campaign.

BJP-TMC Battle Intensified In Falta

The Falta constituency emerged as one of the most closely watched battlegrounds during the Assembly elections.

The political contest became even more intense when senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari publicly targeted Khan ahead of the repoll.
Addressing party workers, Adhikari described Khan as a notorious criminal and vowed to personally monitor matters related to him.

The remarks added another layer of political tension to an already heated campaign.

Why Was A Repoll Ordered In Falta?

The Election Commission ordered a repoll in Falta after multiple complaints were raised during voting held on April 29.

Allegations included irregularities involving Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), as well as complaints related to polling procedures.

After reviewing the complaints, the Election Commission decided that fresh polling would be conducted in the constituency while election results for the remaining seats were declared separately.

The decision turned Falta into one of the most closely watched constituencies in the state.
Jahangir Khan Withdrew But Remained On Ballot

Just two days before the repoll, Jahangir Khan announced that he was withdrawing from the contest.

During a press conference, he said his focus was on the development of Falta and highlighted promises of future development projects in the constituency.
However, because the withdrawal came very close to polling day, his name and party symbol remained on the Electronic Voting Machines.

As a result, voters could still cast ballots in his favour during the repoll.

BJP Secures Record Victory

When the repoll results were declared, the BJP registered a landslide victory in Falta.
BJP candidate Debangshu Panda won the seat by a margin exceeding one lakh votes, making it the party's biggest victory margin in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

The BJP also recorded a significant increase in vote share compared to the previous election.

Meanwhile, Jahangir Khan finished fourth despite remaining on the ballot paper after his withdrawal.

With Khan now in custody, investigators are expected to intensify their probe into the various cases registered against him.

His arrest marks another dramatic chapter in the political controversy that surrounded the Falta election and repoll.

Authorities have not yet disclosed when he will be produced before a court, but legal proceedings are expected to follow in the coming days.
The case is likely to remain under close public and political scrutiny as investigations continue.