Former West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker and senior Trinamool Congress leader Ashish Banerjee was found hanging at a TMC office near his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning, August 16. Police said a purported suicide note was also recovered from the office.

Banerjee, who had served as a minister and five-term MLA from Rampurhat, was found dead at the party office located close to his home in Hattalapara, Ward No. 5. Police have sent his body for post-mortem examination, while further investigation is underway.

Suicide Note Mentions Allegations

According to the reported contents of the note, Banerjee denied allegations of corruption and said attempts had been made to damage his reputation.

The note reportedly referred to a sand tender and stated that he had neither taken money for any work nor been involved in corruption. It also reportedly denied any role in tender-related matters, plan approvals, no-objection certificates or cheques concerning the Tarapith-Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA).

The note reportedly said that no one was responsible for his death and expressed regret over entering politics.

Police have not yet publicly established the circumstances surrounding his death, and the contents of the purported note will form part of the investigation.

Five-Term Rampurhat MLA

Banerjee was a prominent TMC leader and was considered a close aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

After the Trinamool Congress formed the government in West Bengal, he held ministerial responsibilities in several departments, including School Education and Agriculture.

He represented the Rampurhat Assembly constituency for five consecutive terms, winning elections in 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021. He also served as Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly during an earlier TMC government.

However, Banerjee lost the 2026 Assembly election from Rampurhat to BJP candidate Dhruba Saha.

Flag Hoisting a Day Earlier

A day before his death, on Independence Day, Banerjee had participated in a flag-hoisting ceremony near his residence in Birbhum. He also shared photographs from the event on Facebook.

According to his brother, Prashant Banerjee, the family became suspicious after noticing a rope through a small gap in the door of the office. Family members were subsequently contacted and the police were informed.

Prashant said the family had met Banerjee regularly and had not noticed anything unusual until Saturday night. He had spent the day at his office and appeared normal during the Independence Day programme.

Resigned from District Post

Banerjee had stepped down from his organisational positions in the Trinamool Congress on June 2. He resigned as the party's Birbhum district president and chairman of the district core committee.

At the time, he said the core committee had become inactive and there was no longer a need for it to continue functioning. He said he would remain associated with the party as an ordinary member.

Investigation Underway

The discovery of Banerjee's body at a party office and the reported contents of the suicide note have prompted police to examine his recent political and personal circumstances.

The post-mortem examination and investigation will be important in establishing the circumstances of his death. Authorities are also expected to examine the allegations and references contained in the purported note.

Banerjee's death comes just months after the West Bengal Assembly election, in which the veteran TMC leader lost the Rampurhat seat he had represented for five consecutive terms.