West Bengal

Just months ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and Bengali film actor Hiran Chatterjee has found himself at the centre of a major controversy following his second marriage to model Ritika Giri. The development has triggered sharp allegations from his first wife, who has termed the marriage “illegal” and accused the legislator of deception. Hiran Chatterjee, the sitting MLA from Kharagpur Sadar, shared photographs of his wedding ceremony on social media earlier this week. The pictures show the actor-turned-politician tying the knot with Ritika Giri in Varanasi, following traditional Hindu rituals. First Wife Alleges Betrayal Soon after the wedding photos surfaced, Chatterjee’s first wife, Anindita Chatterjee, publicly accused him of enteri...

Kolkata: Political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) may be heading for deeper trouble as fresh questions emerge over an alleged ₹13.5 crore loan taken from a company that, according to official records, does not exist. The revelation comes amid an ongoing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into suspected financial irregularities linked to the firm. As reported by The Indian Express, I-PAC claimed to have received a ₹13.50 crore loan in 2021 from a Rohtak-based firm named Ramasetu Infrastructure India (P) Limited. However, a verification of records maintained by the Registrar of Companies (ROC) shows that no such company has ever been registered, raising serious doubts about the legitimacy of the transaction. Loan Claim Under the Scanner Acc...

Kolkata: In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has scored a clean sweep in the cooperative society elections in Nandigram, dealing a setback to the BJP. The elections were held under the Amadabad Gram Panchayat, specifically for the Amadabad Sahayak Krishi Unnayan Samiti Limited. TMC secured victory in all 12 seats, leaving both BJP and the Left Front trailing. This win is particularly noteworthy as Nandigram is the home turf of BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari. In the 2021 assembly elections, Adhikari had famously defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from this very region. From CPI(M) Stronghold to TMC Dominance Historically, the cooperative society was considered a str...

Kolkata/Malda, January 17, 2026: Amid ongoing religious violence in neighboring Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to West Bengal assured refugees coming to India on account of religious persecution that they would receive full protection. Addressing a public rally in Malda, PM Modi emphasized that communities such as Matua and Namashudra, who fled neighboring countries due to communal violence, need not fear and have the constitutional right to reside in India. Drawing a parallel with the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), PM Modi said, “Through CAA, we have provided complete protection to refugees. This is my guarantee.” Political and Electoral Significance At the Malda event, PM Modi inaugurated the Made-in-India Vande Bharat sleeper trains while taking a s...

Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to West Bengal and Assam on January 17 and 18, during which he will unveil a series of major rail, road, and infrastructure projects worth thousands of crores, including the launch of India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train. On Saturday, the Prime Minister will arrive at Malda Town Railway Station in West Bengal, where he will flag off the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper service connecting Howrah (Kolkata) with Kamakhya (Guwahati). Two sleeper versions of the Vande Bharat train have been manufactured, with services planned on the Howrah–Guwahati and Guwahati–Howrah routes. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Prime Minister’s visit would mark a significant boost to rail connectivity in eastern and north...

Kolkata: As West Bengal gears up for the assembly elections, political tensions have escalated from Kolkata to Delhi following the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on the I-PAC office. Amid this backdrop, speculation is rising over who will succeed Rajeev Kumar as the state’s Director General of Police (DGP), with his tenure ending on 31 January 2026. Rajeev Kumar, a 1989-batch IPS officer, became West Bengal DGP in July 2024. Previously, he had been removed during the Lok Sabha elections on the orders of the Election Commission of India but initially assumed the DGP post in December 2023. Profile of Outgoing DGP Rajeev KumarHailing from Chandausi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajeev Kumar has previously served as the Commissioner of Kolkata Police. Known as a trusted officer of Chief Minister Ma...