Mamata Banerjee's niece Bristi Mukhopadhyay found dead in Rampurhat
Synopsis
Bristi Mukhopadhyay, whose family ties connect her to former Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, was found dead at her Rampurhat home on Tuesday. Her name had appeared on the Calcutta High Court-ordered school job cancellation list, and she was reportedly amid a divorce. Police await the autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Key Takeaways
Bristi Mukhopadhyay , daughter of Nihar Mukhopadhyay (cousin of former CM Mamata Banerjee ), was found hanging at her home in Kusumba village, Rampurhat on Tuesday morning .
Her body was recovered from the second floor of the house and sent to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital for autopsy.
Her father cited a five-to-six-year history of mental health issues; the family was on the ground floor at the time.
Her name appeared at number 608 on the WBCSSC job cancellation list linked to the Bengal school recruitment scam; she had resigned shortly after joining.
A divorce case with her husband had been ongoing for several months; she is survived by a 12-year-old child .
Police are investigating all angles; the cause of death will be confirmed after the autopsy report .
Bristi Mukhopadhyay, the daughter of Nihar Mukhopadhyay — a cousin of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — was found hanging at her residence in Kusumba village under Rampurhat police station in Birbhum district on Tuesday morning. The body was recovered from the second floor of her home and has been sent to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital for an autopsy. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation.
What Happened
Family members discovered Bristi Mukhopadhyay unresponsive and immediately alerted local police. Officers from Rampurhat police station arrived at the scene, took charge of the body, and initiated a formal inquiry. The cause of death is yet to be officially confirmed, pending the autopsy report.
Her father, Nihar Mukhopadhyay, said the family was on the ground floor at the time. 'The girl had been suffering mental health issues for about five-six years. We used to see a doctor regularly. Today, I don't know how all this happened. We were on the ground floor of the house at that time,' he said.
Background: Corruption Allegations and Legal Proceedings
Bristi's death comes amid a backdrop of significant legal and personal pressures. Her name had reportedly appeared on the list of job cancellations published by the West Bengal Central School Service Commission (WBCSSC) following orders from the Calcutta High Court, in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment of primary teachers and Group C posts in state-run schools. Her name was listed at number 608 on that cancellation list. However, according to reports, she had resigned from the position a few days after joining, citing personal reasons.
Notably, the school recruitment scam has been one of the most politically sensitive legal battles in West Bengal in recent years, implicating hundreds of candidates across multiple appointment lists.
Personal Circumstances Under Investigation
Local sources indicate that Bristi Mukhopadhyay had been involved in a divorce proceeding with her husband for several months. She had been married in Ayash village, also under Rampurhat police station, and is survived by a 12-year-old child. Police are examining whether her domestic situation played any role in the incident.
Family Connection to Mamata Banerjee
Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's ancestral home is located in Chakaipur village of Rampurhat Block No. I. Her maternal uncle Anil Mukhopadhyay and his son Nihar Mukhopadhyay's family reside in the adjacent Kusumba village, where the incident occurred. The news has cast a shadow of grief over the local community.
What Comes Next
The autopsy report from Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital is expected to provide clarity on the cause of death. Police have said definitive findings will only be available once the post-mortem results are received. The investigation remains ongoing.
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Point of View
A politically prominent family, and the human cost of prolonged legal and personal uncertainty. The presence of Bristi Mukhopadhyay's name on the WBCSSC cancellation list, even after her own resignation, reflects how sweeping and indiscriminate the court-ordered rollback has been, ensnaring individuals in reputational and psychological distress long after the appointments were undone. Mainstream coverage will likely focus on the political connection; the harder question is what support systems exist — or don't — for the hundreds of others named on similar cancellation lists who face comparable pressures without any public profile.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bristi Mukhopadhyay and how is she related to Mamata Banerjee?
Bristi Mukhopadhyay was the daughter of Nihar Mukhopadhyay, who is a cousin of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, making Bristi her niece by family relation. The Mukhopadhyay family resides in Kusumba village, Rampurhat, close to Mamata Banerjee's ancestral home in Chakaipur village.
What were the circumstances of Bristi Mukhopadhyay's death?
She was found hanging on the second floor of her home in Kusumba village, Rampurhat, on Tuesday morning. Her body was sent for autopsy to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, and police are investigating the incident. The official cause of death is pending the post-mortem report.
Was Bristi Mukhopadhyay connected to the Bengal school recruitment scam?
Her name reportedly appeared at number 608 on the job cancellation list published by the West Bengal Central School Service Commission following a Calcutta High Court order related to alleged irregularities in school recruitment. She had, however, resigned from the position shortly after joining, citing personal reasons.
What personal pressures was Bristi Mukhopadhyay reportedly facing?
According to her father, she had been dealing with mental health issues for approximately five to six years and was under medical care. Local sources also indicate that a divorce proceeding with her husband had been ongoing for several months, and she is survived by a 12-year-old child.
What is the current status of the police investigation?
Rampurhat police have taken charge of the body and launched a formal investigation. Officers are examining all possible angles, including her mental health history, the ongoing divorce case, and any connection to the school recruitment controversy. Definitive findings are expected after the autopsy report is received.
