Bengal SIT files chargesheet against TMC ex-councillor in ₹100 crore assets case
Synopsis
Thirty-five days after being arrested while on the run, former TMC councillor Debraj Chakraborty now faces a formal chargesheet invoking organised crime provisions — with ₹100 crore in allegedly concealed assets at the heart of the case. His wife, a defeated TMC MLA, faces a parallel allegation of understating assets in her election affidavit, raising the political stakes considerably.
Key Takeaways
The SIT filed a 15-page chargesheet on 6 August 2025 against former TMC councillor Debraj Chakraborty before a court in North 24 Parganas .
Chakraborty is charged under Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (organised crime) among other provisions.
The couple allegedly transferred assets worth at least ₹100 crore anonymously before the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections .
Statements of 11 witnesses have been recorded; a supplementary chargesheet may follow.
The Barasat district court rejected Chakraborty's bail plea on Thursday .
His wife Aditi Munis , a defeated TMC MLA, is separately accused of understating assets in her election affidavit .
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing a disproportionate assets case against former Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor Debraj Chakraborty filed a 15-page chargesheet on Thursday, 6 August 2025 before a district court in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. The filing came 35 days after Chakraborty's arrest from Purulia district on 1 July, when he was apprehended while allegedly evading authorities.
What the Chargesheet Contains
The chargesheet invokes multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Section 111, which deals with punishment for organised crime. Statements of 11 witnesses have been recorded as part of the document. The SIT has also indicated that a supplementary chargesheet may be submitted at a later stage if the investigation yields further evidence.
Public prosecutor Bibhas Chatterjee told the Barasat district court that investigators obtained evidence linking Chakraborty to extortion. 'The chargesheet has been submitted based on that evidence. An important stage of the investigation has been completed. The government wants to move towards settlement of the case by starting the trial process quickly. That is why a request is being made to the court to start the trial quickly,' he said.
Background: The Allegations
Chakraborty, a former councillor of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, is the husband of Aditi Munis, a former TMC legislator from the Rajarhat-Gopalpur constituency. Police allege that the couple transferred assets worth at least ₹100 crore anonymously — routing them through relatives and acquaintances — ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections.
Chakraborty personally faces charges of assets disproportionate to his known income, concealment of assets, and money laundering. He was considered an influential figure in the Bidhannagar area before his arrest.
Aditi Munis and the Election Affidavit Controversy
Aditi Munis, who contested the recently concluded West Bengal assembly polls from Rajarhat-Gopalpur and was defeated, faces a separate but related allegation: that she understated her assets in the election affidavit she filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI). This is a serious charge that, if proven, could attract disqualification provisions under electoral law.
Notably, the case surfaces at a politically charged moment — the 2026 assembly polls in Bengal saw TMC retain power, making accountability proceedings against its former functionaries a closely watched affair.
Court's Ruling on Bail
The Barasat district court rejected Chakraborty's bail plea on Thursday, keeping him in custody as the trial process is set to begin. The prosecution's push for a speedy trial signals that the state government intends to demonstrate swift legal action in a case that has drawn public scrutiny. All eyes will now be on when the court frames charges and whether the promised supplementary chargesheet adds further dimensions to the probe.
Point of View
Network-driven operation rather than individual opportunism. The parallel allegation against Aditi Munis of understating assets in an election affidavit is arguably the more consequential thread: if substantiated, it raises questions about how systematically wealth declarations in Bengal's electoral process are scrutinised. With TMC having just retained power in the 2026 polls, the speed at which the state government pushes this trial will be a test of whether accountability proceedings against its own former functionaries are genuine or performative.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the disproportionate assets case against Debraj Chakraborty?
Debraj Chakraborty, a former TMC councillor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, is accused of holding assets disproportionate to his known income, concealing assets, and money laundering. He and his wife, former MLA Aditi Munis, allegedly transferred at least ₹100 crore anonymously through relatives and acquaintances before the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections.
When was Debraj Chakraborty arrested and why was he on the run?
Chakraborty was arrested on 1 July from Purulia district while allegedly evading authorities. The SIT filed the chargesheet 35 days after his arrest, on 6 August 2025, before a court in North 24 Parganas.
What charges has the SIT filed against Chakraborty?
The SIT has charged Chakraborty under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including Section 111, which deals with punishment for organised crime. The 15-page chargesheet is based on evidence linking him to extortion, according to public prosecutor Bibhas Chatterjee.
What is the allegation against Aditi Munis?
Aditi Munis, former TMC MLA from Rajarhat-Gopalpur who was defeated in the 2026 West Bengal assembly polls, is accused of understating her assets in the election affidavit she filed with the Election Commission of India. She is also named in the broader probe into the alleged ₹100 crore asset transfer.
What happens next in the case?
The Barasat district court rejected Chakraborty's bail plea on Thursday, keeping him in custody. The prosecution has requested a speedy trial, and the SIT has indicated that a supplementary chargesheet may be filed if further evidence emerges during the ongoing investigation.
