A ninth person has been arrested in connection with the Baruipur mob-lynching case in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, police confirmed on Friday, 25 July 2025. The latest accused, identified as Lutfar Sheikh (46), was produced before a district court in South 24 Parganas on Friday afternoon, where the public prosecutor sought police custody for further interrogation.

Background: The Baruipur Incident

The lynching took place on 5 July 2025, when a mob killed 26-year-old Indrajit Tanti, who had been suspected — allegedly without basis — of involvement in the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur. Subsequent police investigation cleared Tanti of any role in the minor's killing. Four persons have since been arrested in the rape-and-murder case itself, one of whom — Pravas Mondal — was killed in a police encounter after allegedly attempting to snatch a firearm from an escorting officer while in custody.

How Sheikh Was Identified

According to the investigating officer, Sheikh's alleged association with the lynching came to light through interrogation of the eight previously arrested accused. Investigators are now questioning him to establish whether additional individuals were involved in orchestrating or participating in the mob killing. All nine accused face charges under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, covering unlawful assembly, rioting, obstructing a public servant, wilfully causing hurt to a public servant, and murder by lynching.

Three Separate Cases, 42 Total Arrests

Police have registered three distinct cases arising from the Baruipur violence. The first pertains to the alleged rape and murder of the minor girl; the second to the mob lynching of Tanti; and the third to the widespread destruction that accompanied the unrest — including vandalism of railway tracks and police vehicles, and physical attacks on police personnel. Across all three cases, 42 persons have been arrested to date.

State Government Response

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Baruipur earlier this month and handed a compensation cheque of ₹25 lakh to the family of the lynching victim. He also announced the post of a civic volunteer in the state police for Tanti's elder brother. Adhikari alleged that those defeated in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections were behind the mob-lynching conspiracy, though no formal charges in that regard have been disclosed by investigators.

What Comes Next

With Sheikh now in custody and investigators pursuing further leads, more arrests in the lynching case cannot be ruled out. The three parallel investigations are expected to proceed simultaneously, and court proceedings for the nine accused in the lynching case are ongoing. The outcome of these cases will be closely watched as a test of accountability in one of West Bengal's most high-profile mob-violence incidents in recent years.