Bengal Poll Officer Wanted In Murder Case Arrested For Drink Driving
Bengal poll officer arrested for drink driving, murder case.
A Block Development Officer (BDO) from Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal, who was allegedly evading arrest in a 2025 murder case involving a businessman, has been arrested in Kolkata after he was caught driving under the influence and involved in a road accident, police said.
The officer, identified as Prashant Barman, serving in Rajganj in Jalpaiguri, was wanted in connection with allegations linked to the kidnapping and murder of a 45-year-old gold trader, Swapan Kamaliya, in 2025. According to the information provided, he had been removed from his post earlier this year after a Supreme Court directive reportedly ordered him to surrender in the case.
Police said the incident occurred on Monday evening in the Eco Park police station area of New Town, where Barman was allegedly driving a Mahindra Thar when he struck a pedestrian. Following the accident, a video purportedly showed him arguing with individuals at the scene before police personnel arrived and took control of the situation.
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The injured person was immediately rescued by on-duty police officers and shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Officials later confirmed that the driver of the vehicle was identified as Prashant Barman during routine verification, after which he was taken into custody.
Authorities further stated that the Bidhannagar Detective Department, which is already investigating the broader murder case in New Town, is expected to seek custody of the accused for further questioning. Police sources indicated that while Barman’s name does not appear as an accused in the final chargesheet, he is referenced multiple times in the document as an “absconding” suspect.
The case has drawn attention due to the overlap between his administrative role and the serious criminal allegations he faces. Investigators are now expected to examine both the hit-and-run incident and his alleged connection to the earlier murder case as part of ongoing proceedings.
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