Kolkata CBI court frames charges against 19 in 2021 BJP worker Avijit Sarkar murder
Synopsis
Four years after BJP worker Avijit Sarkar was allegedly killed by TMC activists in post-poll violence, a special CBI court in Kolkata has completed charge-framing against 19 accused — including a former TMC MLA and an ex-KMC councillor. With West Bengal's new CM vowing no one will be spared, the case now heads toward full trial.
Key Takeaways
A special CBI court in Kolkata framed charges against 19 accused on 1 July in the murder of BJP worker Avijit Sarkar .
Former TMC MLA Pares Paul (Beliaghata constituency) and ex-KMC councillor Swapan Samaddar are among the accused.
Sarkar was allegedly killed by TMC activists following the 2021 West Bengal assembly election results in the Kankurgachi area of North Kolkata.
The CBI took over from local police on Calcutta High Court orders and filed an additional chargesheet naming 20 accused , including two police personnel from Kankurgachi Police Station.
New West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has vowed that no accused in 2021 post-poll violence cases will be spared.
A special CBI court in Kolkata on Wednesday, 1 July completed the charge-framing process against 19 accused in the murder case of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Avijit Sarkar, killed during post-poll violence that followed the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections. Among those charged are former Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Pares Paul and ex-Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) councillor Swapan Samaddar.
Key Accused Named in Charges
Former TMC MLA Pares Paul, who represented the Beliaghata assembly constituency in North Kolkata, and former KMC councillor Swapan Samaddar are among the most prominent figures facing charges. Both had been questioned multiple times by CBI investigators in connection with the case. The Central Bureau of Investigation had named a total of 20 accused in its additional chargesheet, with charges now framed against 19 of them.
How the Case Unfolded
Avijit Sarkar, a BJP worker from the Kankurgachi area of North Kolkata, was allegedly killed by TMC activists in the days following the announcement of the 2021 assembly election results. His family alleged he was brutally tortured before being murdered.
The initial investigation was taken up by Narkeldanga Police Station, which filed a chargesheet against 15 people. The Calcutta High Court subsequently ordered the CBI to take over the probe. The CBI's expanded investigation led to an additional chargesheet naming 20 accused — including the then officer-in-charge and a lady sub-inspector of Kankurgachi Police Station, both of whom were arrested.
Court's Observations and Family's Frustration
During bail proceedings, the court raised pointed questions about the conduct of the police personnel accused in the case, reportedly asking how society could function if those entrusted with protection were themselves playing the role of perpetrators. The family of the deceased BJP worker, meanwhile, expressed frustration over what they described as the slow pace of the CBI's investigation.
Political Context and What Comes Next
The charge-framing milestone comes in the backdrop of renewed political focus on 2021 post-poll violence cases in West Bengal. Following the recently concluded West Bengal assembly elections, the new Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, publicly declared that no individual implicated in any 2021 post-poll violence case would be spared. Wednesday's development at the special CBI court marks a significant procedural step toward trial, with the case now set to move into the evidence and hearing stage.
Point of View
Not just partisan mob violence. With a new Chief Minister in West Bengal making public pledges on accountability, the CBI's pace will face greater scrutiny. The real test is whether the trial phase moves with the urgency the family and the court's own bail-stage observations have demanded.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Avijit Sarkar and why was he killed?
Avijit Sarkar was a BJP worker from the Kankurgachi area of North Kolkata who was allegedly killed by TMC activists in the violence that erupted after the 2021 West Bengal assembly election results were announced. His family alleged he was brutally tortured before being murdered.
Who are the most prominent accused in the Avijit Sarkar murder case?
The most prominent accused are former TMC MLA Pares Paul, who represented the Beliaghata assembly constituency in North Kolkata, and former KMC councillor Swapan Samaddar. Both had been questioned multiple times by the CBI. Two police personnel from Kankurgachi Police Station were also arrested in connection with the case.
How did the CBI get involved in the case?
The Calcutta High Court ordered the CBI to take over the investigation from the Narkeldanga Police Station, which had initially filed a chargesheet against 15 people. The CBI subsequently submitted an additional chargesheet naming 20 accused in total.
What does charge-framing mean and what happens next?
Charge-framing is the formal legal step in which a court specifies the criminal charges an accused must face at trial. With charges now framed against 19 accused, the case moves into the evidence and hearing stage, bringing it closer to a verdict.
What has West Bengal's new Chief Minister said about post-poll violence cases?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, following the recently concluded West Bengal assembly elections, publicly declared that not a single person implicated in any 2021 post-poll violence case would be spared, signalling continued political and legal pressure on pending matters.
