CBI Arrests Proclaimed Offender Jharna Mistry in 2021 West Bengal Post-Poll Violence Murder Case

CBI Arrests Jharna Mistry in 2021 Murder Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested proclaimed offender Jharna Mistry in connection with a murder case linked to the post-poll violence that followed the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election.

According to the CBI, Mistry was arrested from Ghoshpara in Santoshpur, South 24 Parganas district. She is the wife of co-accused Sanjay Mistry and had been at large since the registration of the case in 2021.

CBI Had Announced ₹50,000 Reward

The investigating agency said Mistry had not joined the investigation or the trial since the FIR was registered. The CBI had announced a cash reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to her arrest.

She was subsequently declared a proclaimed offender by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), Barrackpore, on October 3, 2023, after allegedly evading the trial process.

Case Taken Over Following Calcutta High Court Order

The CBI registered the case on August 27, 2021, after taking over FIR No. 345/2021, originally registered at Jagaddal Police Station in North 24 Parganas on May 3, 2021.

The takeover followed the Calcutta High Court's August 19, 2021 order directing the CBI to investigate cases related to the alleged post-poll violence in West Bengal.

Murder Allegation Involving Sova Rani Mondal

The FIR was based on allegations that Sova Rani Mondal, the mother of the complainant, was killed during the post-poll violence.

The CBI's case concerns allegations surrounding her death following the declaration of the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election results. The allegation remains subject to the judicial process.

CBI Filed Supplementary Chargesheet Against 13 Accused

After completing its investigation, the CBI filed a supplementary chargesheet on December 29, 2021, naming 13 accused persons, including Jharna Mistry.

The agency subsequently continued efforts to locate Mistry after she remained unavailable for the investigation and trial proceedings.

Jharna Mistry Produced Before Barrackpore Court

Following her arrest, Mistry was being produced before the competent court at Barrackpore on September 29, 2026, according to the CBI.

The court proceedings will determine the next steps in the case following her arrest.

Background of the 2021 West Bengal Post-Poll Violence Cases

The CBI investigation into several cases of alleged post-poll violence in West Bengal followed the Calcutta High Court's 2021 directions. The cases included allegations of murder and other offences committed after the state Assembly election.

The investigation into the case involving Sova Rani Mondal resulted in the chargesheet against multiple accused, with Jharna Mistry subsequently being declared a proclaimed offender.

Key Takeaways

• The CBI arrested Jharna Mistry in a 2021 West Bengal post-poll violence murder case.

• She was arrested from Ghoshpara in Santoshpur, South 24 Parganas.

• The CBI said she had remained absconding since the FIR was registered.

• A ₹50,000 reward had earlier been announced for information leading to her arrest.

• Mistry was declared a proclaimed offender by a Barrackpore court in October 2023.

• The CBI filed a supplementary chargesheet against 13 accused, including Mistry, in December 2021.

• She was produced before the competent court at Barrackpore following her arrest.