Sandeshkhali Case: Key witness hurt in crash; son, driver killed

Bholanath Ghosh, a key witness in the ration distribution scam case, being probed by the ED and CBI in which suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan is the main accused, has been severely injured in a road accident. Two others who were travelling with him died when the car in which they were travelling was hit by a 16-wheel truck in South 24 Parganas district's Malancha area on Wednesday. They were travelling to court in connection with an alleged false case lodged by Shahjahan.

Bholanath was injured and lost consciousness while his younger son Satyajit Ghosh and driver Shahanur Molla died. The car fell into a waterbody following the impact of the crash.

After being rescued and gaining consciousness, Bholanath said, "I was going to Basirhat court at around 9 am when the truck hit our car near Malancha. I lost consciousness and was rescued by the locals." The area is desolate and full of waterbodies where pisciculture is carried out extensively. Bholanath has been admitted to a local hospital in South Kolkata.


Shahjahan, one of the main accused in the ration distribution scam, was also involved in the assault on ED and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on January 5, 2024, near his residence in Sandeshkhali. A major protest had erupted in Sandeshkhali against Shahjahan over allegations of sexual harassment of women and illegal land grabbing in January 2024.

Bholanath's elder son Biswajit alleged, "Sheikh Shahjahan's men have purposely hit my father's car as my father was a witness against Sheikh Shahjahan. It is a conspiracy. They have been threatening my father earlier also. This is nothing, but murder."

Driver Shahnur's father Akbar Ali Mollah said, "It is a road accident. My son went out for work in the morning and then I learnt that a truck rammed into my son's vehicle. We want a probe by the police. My son was driving the vehicle."