Falta’s ‘Pushpa’ Jahangir Khan Had Plans To Flee Abroad From Nepal
The Statesman | 8 June 2026
Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman from Falta Jahangir Khan who was arrested by the West Bengal Police Special Task Force (STF) on Monday from Panitanki Bazar in Darjeeling under the Kharibari Police Station in a joint raid with the Darjeeling Police team.
Police sources say that Khan was plotting to flee the country and was in hiding in Nepal. The STF is all set to leave for Kolkata along with Khan on Monday and will be produced before the court on Tuesday morning.
Jahangir Khan who was fielded by the TMC as a candidate in the Assembly re-election in Falta had been absconding after multiple allegations were levelled against him following several incidents of violence in his constituency.
Some of these allegations reportedly date back to the pre-election ‘SIR’ (Special Intensive Revision) phase. He was accused of exerting influence over and indimidating Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to include the names of deceased individuals in the electoral rolls.
The Election Commission subsequently appointed Ajay Pal Sharma, a decorated police officer from Uttar Pradesh known for his expertise in carrying out ‘encounters,’ as a special observer in the area.
When Ajay Pal Sharma personally visited Jahangir Khan’s residence and issued a stern warning against intimidating voters on election day, the TMC bahubali had famously likened himself to the popular character ‘Pushpa,’ Telugu superstar Allu Arjun’s character in a blockbuster movie having the same name.
“If he is Singham, then I am Pushpa,” Khan had reportedly said after the visit.
The Falta election was marred by multiple complaints, including allegations that tapes were used to tamper the Electronic Voting Machines in the assembly constituency.
The Election Commission ordered a re-poll on May 21. Jahangir Khan withdrew from the contest just two days before polling and had been absconding ever since.
Although Khan had sought legal protection, the Calcutta High Court had revoked the interim protection from arrest granted to him. It had earlier granted Khan protection from arrest until May 26.