TMC Leader Jahangir Khan remanded to 5 days of police custody in extortion cases

A court in West Bengal's Diamond Harbour on Tuesday remanded Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Jahangir Khan to five days of police custody in connection with multiple cases, including allegations of extortion.

Khan was arrested on Monday near the India-Nepal border in the Panitanki area of North Bengal after reportedly evading authorities. The TMC leader had contested the Falta Assembly seat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections but was unsuccessful.

According to officials, the prosecution sought police custody in connection with seven FIRs registered against Khan at Falta Police Station in South 24 Parganas district. Accepting the request, the Diamond Harbour Sub-Divisional Court remanded him to police custody for five days.

The case follows developments in the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026, where Khan had initially received interim protection from arrest from the Calcutta High Court on May 18. The relief was granted to enable him to participate in campaigning and the repoll held on May 21.

However, despite obtaining judicial protection, Khan publicly announced his withdrawal from the electoral contest a day later.

On May 26, the Calcutta High Court vacated the interim protection, paving the way for police action in the cases registered against him. The FIRs reportedly include allegations of extortion and other offences.

Khan had not been seen in the Falta constituency for several days before the repoll, and his arrest near the India-Nepal border added a new dimension to the ongoing investigation.

Police are expected to question the TMC leader during the custody period as part of the probe into the seven cases registered against him.