Calcutta HC hearing today as Jahangir Khan's arrest protection expires
Synopsis
Trinamool Congress's Jahangir Khan, already facing multiple FIRs for alleged voter intimidation at Falta, lost his court-granted arrest protection on 24 May — the same day BJP's Debangshu Panda crushed him by over 1,00,000 votes. Now the Calcutta High Court must decide whether he walks free or faces police action.
Key Takeaways
Calcutta High Court takes up Jahangir Khan's arrest protection case on 26 May 2025 before Justice Saugata Bhattacharya .
Khan's interim protection from coercive police action, granted on 18 May , expired on 24 May .
Multiple FIRs against Khan relate to alleged voter intimidation before and during the 29 April Falta polling day.
BJP candidate Debangshu Panda won the Falta repoll on 24 May by a margin of over 1,00,000 votes .
Khan, who made a symbolic withdrawal before the repoll, finished fourth with just 7,783 votes and forfeited his deposit.
The Calcutta High Court is set to hear a critical case on Tuesday, 26 May, as the interim protection from arrest granted to Jahangir Khan, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Falta Assembly constituency, lapsed on 24 May — the same day results of the Falta repoll were declared. Justice Saugata Bhattacharya of the court's single-judge bench will decide whether to extend that protection or allow it to expire.
Background: FIRs and the Anticipatory Bail Plea
Multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against Khan in connection with alleged voter intimidation before and during the regular polling day at Falta on 29 April. Apprehending arrest ahead of the repoll scheduled for 21 May, Khan approached the Calcutta High Court on 18 May with an anticipatory bail application.
Justice Bhattacharya heard the matter the same day and granted Khan interim protection from coercive police action, including arrest, until 24 May. The bench simultaneously fixed 26 May as the next date of hearing. The case is expected to be called either at the close of the first half or the opening of the second half of Tuesday's court session.
Khan's Symbolic Withdrawal Before the Repoll
In a striking development ahead of the 21 May repoll, Khan called a press conference and announced his withdrawal from the contest, citing solidarity with the new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's special development package for Falta. However, the withdrawal was only symbolic — his name remained on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) on polling day, as the deadline for formal withdrawal had already passed.
Falta Repoll Result: A Landslide for BJP
When results were declared on 24 May, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Debangshu Panda won by a margin of over 1,00,000 votes, registering a landslide victory. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Sambhunath Kumri finished second, while Khan ended in fourth place with just 7,783 votes, forfeiting his deposit.
What the Court Decides Next
The central question before Justice Bhattacharya on Tuesday is whether Khan continues to receive protection from arrest given that the repoll — the context in which the original interim relief was granted — has now concluded. With the FIRs still active, the outcome of today's hearing will determine whether Khan faces immediate police action. This comes amid heightened scrutiny of poll-related violence in West Bengal, a pattern that has drawn repeated judicial intervention in recent election cycles.
Point of View
The political stakes of today's hearing are low; the legal precedent it sets for future poll-violence accused is not.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Jahangir Khan facing arrest?
Jahangir Khan faces multiple FIRs linked to alleged voter intimidation before and during the Falta Assembly polling day on 29 April. He sought anticipatory bail from the Calcutta High Court on 18 May, apprehending arrest ahead of the 21 May repoll.
What interim protection did the Calcutta High Court grant Khan?
Justice Saugata Bhattacharya granted Khan interim protection from coercive police action, including arrest, from 18 May to 24 May. The court fixed 26 May as the next hearing date to decide on any extension.
What was the result of the Falta Assembly repoll?
BJP candidate Debangshu Panda won the Falta repoll declared on 24 May by a margin of over 1,00,000 votes. CPI(M) candidate Sambhunath Kumri finished second, while Khan came fourth with 7,783 votes and forfeited his deposit.
Why did Jahangir Khan withdraw from the Falta repoll?
Khan announced his withdrawal at a press conference ahead of the 21 May repoll, citing solidarity with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's special development package for Falta. However, the withdrawal was symbolic — his name remained on the EVM as the formal deadline had passed.
What happens if the court does not extend Khan's protection?
If Justice Bhattacharya declines to extend the interim relief, Khan would lose court-backed protection from arrest, leaving him exposed to police action on the active FIRs related to voter intimidation at Falta.
