CBI arrests proclaimed offender in Bengal 2021 post-poll murder case
Synopsis
After more than three years on the run, proclaimed offender Jharna Mistry — named in the CBI chargesheet for the killing of a BJP worker's mother following West Bengal's 2021 Assembly elections — has been arrested from South 24 Parganas. The arrest renews scrutiny on the state's post-poll violence record, with the NHRC and CBI findings squarely at odds with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's denial of any such incidents.
Key Takeaways
CBI arrested proclaimed offender Jharna Mistry from Ghoshpara, Santoshpur, South 24 Parganas on Tuesday in the 2021 post-poll violence and murder case .
Jharna, wife of co-accused Sanjay Mistry , had been absconding since the FIR was registered in 2021 ; the CBI had offered a ₹50,000 cash reward for her arrest.
The case involves the alleged killing of Sova Rani Mondal , mother of BJP worker Kamal Mondal , in Jagaddal constituency following the 2 May 2021 election results.
The CBI filed a supplementary chargesheet on 29 December 2021 against 13 accused persons , including Jharna.
The NHRC had flagged multiple incidents of rape and murder post-election, contradicting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's denial of post-poll violence.
Jharna is being produced before the competent court at Barrackpore ; trial proceedings are expected to advance.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested Jharna Mistry, a proclaimed offender, from Ghoshpara, Santoshpur in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, in connection with the 2021 post-poll violence and murder case. Jharna had been absconding since the First Information Report (FIR) was registered in 2021, evading both investigation and trial for over three years.
Background of the Case
The case stems from the killing of Sova Rani Mondal, mother of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker and complainant Kamal Mondal, in the Jagaddal constituency of North 24 Parganas. According to the FIR, she was allegedly murdered by the accused following the declaration of West Bengal Assembly election results on 2 May 2021. The original FIR — No. 345/2021, dated 3 May 2021 — was registered at Jagaddal Police Station.
The CBI took over the case on 27 August 2021, acting in compliance with a Calcutta High Court order dated 19 August 2021. Following its investigation, the agency filed a supplementary chargesheet on 29 December 2021 against a total of 13 accused persons, including Jharna Mistry.
How the Arrest Came About
As Jharna continued to evade legal proceedings, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Barrackpore, North 24 Parganas, declared her a proclaimed offender vide order dated 3 October 2023. The CBI had announced a cash reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to her arrest — a reward first announced in March 2023. Jharna is the wife of co-accused Sanjay Mistry, who is also named in the case. Following her arrest, she is being produced before the competent court at Barrackpore, according to the CBI.
Wider Context of Post-Poll Violence Probe
The arrest is part of a broader CBI investigation into alleged post-poll violence in West Bengal following the 2021 Assembly elections. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had, in a report, noted several incidents of rape and murder in the aftermath of the election results — a finding that stands in contrast to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's public position that no such violence occurred in the state.
Notably, on 28 January 2023, the CBI had announced a similar cash reward of ₹50,000 for information in the murder of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar, who was allegedly strangled to death with a television cable in Kolkata — the only BJP worker to have died in the state capital during the post-poll violence. His family has repeatedly alleged that local police failed to act against those responsible, who reportedly continued to threaten the family. Biswajit Sarkar, Abhijit's elder brother, has filed petitions before both the Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court seeking a proper probe into the death.
What Happens Next
With Jharna Mistry's arrest, the CBI's multi-year pursuit of absconding accused in the post-poll violence cases has claimed another significant outcome. The trial proceedings at Barrackpore are expected to advance further, and legal observers will watch whether the remaining accused in the 13-person chargesheet face similar action in the months ahead.
Point of View
Three-plus years after the FIR and more than a year after she was declared a proclaimed offender, underscores how slowly the wheels of accountability have turned in West Bengal's post-poll violence cases. The CBI's reliance on cash rewards to surface absconding accused signals institutional strain in pursuing a chargesheet that names 13 people. More fundamentally, the gap between the NHRC's documented findings and Chief Minister Banerjee's categorical denial of any violence remains unresolved — and every fresh arrest widens that credibility gap for the state government. The real test is not this single arrest but whether the trial at Barrackpore reaches verdict, and whether the political narrative around 2021 is finally held to an evidentiary standard.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jharna Mistry and why was she arrested?
Jharna Mistry is the wife of co-accused Sanjay Mistry and one of 13 persons named in the CBI's supplementary chargesheet in the 2021 West Bengal post-poll violence and murder case. She was arrested from Ghoshpara, Santoshpur, South 24 Parganas, after evading investigation and trial since the FIR was registered in 2021.
What is the 2021 Bengal post-poll violence murder case?
The case involves the alleged killing of Sova Rani Mondal, mother of BJP worker Kamal Mondal, in the Jagaddal constituency of North 24 Parganas, following the declaration of West Bengal Assembly election results on 2 May 2021. The CBI took over the case from Jagaddal Police Station in August 2021 on the orders of the Calcutta High Court.
Why had the CBI announced a cash reward in this case?
The CBI announced a cash reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to Jharna Mistry's arrest because she had been continuously evading the legal process since 2021. She was formally declared a proclaimed offender by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Barrackpore, on 3 October 2023.
What did the NHRC say about post-poll violence in West Bengal?
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reported several incidents of rape and murder in West Bengal following the 2021 Assembly election results — findings that directly contradict Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that no post-poll violence occurred in the state.
What is the current status of the case against Abhijit Sarkar?
BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar was allegedly strangled to death with a television cable in Kolkata, making him the only BJP worker to have died in the state capital during the post-poll violence. The CBI announced a ₹50,000 reward for information in his case in January 2023, and his elder brother Biswajit Sarkar has filed petitions before both the Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court seeking a proper investigation.
