Kolkata: According to the preliminary postmortem report, police on Sunday stated that South Dum Dum Municipality Trinamool councillor Sanjay Das died by suicide. However, authorities are investigating whether there was any provocation or external involvement in the incident.
Police have also launched an inquiry into allegations that banners accusing Das of land grabbing, corruption, and extortion were placed outside his residence a few days prior to his death. Although no specific complaint regarding abetment to suicide has been received so far, the matter concerning the banners is being investigated. An officer said, "We are trying to find out who put them up and whether anyone had threatened him."
Das, aged 49, served as chairman-in-council member in charge of health at South Dum Dum Municipality and councillor of ward 18. He was found hanging inside his seventh-floor apartment on Gorakshabashi Road on Saturday. His body has been handed over to his family.
South Dum Dum Municipality chairman Kasturi Chowdhury expressed shock, stating, "I received the news around 8 am on Saturday. I visited the hospital along with almost all our councillors. We are unable to accept the death of such an active and good councillor."
On social media, BJP MLA from Rajarhat-Gopalpur Tarunjyoti Tewari expressed condolences to the family and demanded a neutral probe while referring to past allegations of corruption, illegal construction, and extortion against the councillor.
