BJP unit head, in eye of storm, switched to BJP from TMC 2 years ago
Times of India | 8 July 2026
Kolkata: Till two months ago, Santanu Mondal, 28, was a little-known local political worker in Baruipur. He switched from the Trinamool Congress to the BJP before the 2024 general elections. Now, the BJP functionary is at the centre of a major controversy after the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl at Suryapur Hat in Baruipur. Some local residents and opposition parties have accused him of shielding the prime accused. Mondal and the BJP have denied the allegations, saying he helped identify the suspects and hand them over to police.
Mondal’s political journey has seen a quick rise and several controversies. Local residents said he was earlier associated with the Trinamool Congress and worked under the patronage of a local panchayat pradhan, handling organisational work. Before the 2024 general elections, he joined the BJP.
Mondal was appointed secretary of the BJP’s Mandal 3 in Baruipur West. After May 4, the BJP rewarded him for his election work and promoted him to mandal president.
Residents of Suryapur, however, allege that Mondal, who is also a land broker, used his political influence to intimidate people and control the area. He has also been accused of cheating people by taking money on the promise of arranging land deals that never happened.
In the latest controversy, several residents alleged that Mondal stopped villagers from going near the pond before the girl’s body was recovered and tried to protect the prime accused. Others claimed that after locals identified suspects through CCTV footage and handed them over to police, Mondal intervened to secure their release.
A viral video on social media, showing Mondal escorting one of the accused, further increased public anger. Residents later vandalised his house and demanded strict action against him.
Mondal has rejected all allegations. “There is no question of helping anyone escape. I led the search operation and even posted a photograph of the girl on my Facebook profile seeking information about the missing girl,” he told reporters.
According to Mondal, he and local residents identified one suspect from CCTV footage, caught him and handed him over to police. He claimed the accused later confessed to the crime and led investigators to the pond where the victim’s body was recovered.
“There is no political conspiracy. We spent the entire night searching for the missing girl. I decided to hand over the accused to police to facilitate the investigation,” he said.
Responding to allegations that he helped an accused flee, Mondal claimed the suspect escaped from the Suryapur outpost when a large crowd attacked the premises and only one policeman was present. He said he had no role in the escape.
BJP’s Jadavpur organisational district president Manoranjan Joardar defended Mondal. “Rather than a party worker, he worked as an ordinary citizen and helped the investigation. These allegations are politically motivated,” he said.
Trinamool functionary Goutam Das claimed Mondal was never associated with his party. CPM functionary Lahek Ali alleged that the accused were released from police custody at Mondal’s behest.
Police have not made any official statement on the allegations against Mondal. They initially detained and questioned him, but later released him.