Truck Crash That Injured Shahjahan Case Witness Was Planned, Claims Family(Source: X/ Instagram)
A key witness in the cases against suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan was seriously injured in a road accident in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas on Wednesday. Shahjahan is currently in jail for allegedly orchestrating the attack on ED officials in Sandeshkhali and for several other offences.
The injured witness, Bholanath Ghosh, was travelling with his younger son, Satyajit Ghosh (32), and their driver, Sahanur Molla (27). Their car was hit by a speeding truck near the Boyramari petrol pump on Basanti Highway, killing Satyajit and the driver instantly.
Ghosh was on his way to the Basirhat sub-divisional court to appear in one of the multiple cases that Shahjahan had filed against him.
Eyewitnesses said the truck approached from the opposite direction at high speed, rammed into the car, crushed it, and dragged it until the vehicle plunged into a nearby water body. The truck was later spotted precariously hanging on the edge of the water, but the driver fled immediately.
Basirhat Superintendent of Police Hossain Mehedi Rahaman said Ghosh was taken to a local hospital and later shifted to a private facility in Kolkata. The bodies of the deceased were sent to SSKM Hospital for post-mortem.
Bholanath’s elder son, Biswajit, alleged that the incident was a “planned attempt to murder” his father and accused Shahjahan of engineering the attack from jail.
Bhola’s mother also claimed that supporters of the jailed leader were behind the crash. “They planned to kill Bhola. He is the key witness against Shahjahan," she said.
From his hospital bed, Bholanath maintained that the collision was intentional. Speaking to CNN-News18, he said he was travelling for a court-related matter when a truck “deliberately” hit his vehicle.
“This is not an accident; this is planned. I know the driver. Shahjahan is behind this," he said, adding that he survived only because he was seated in the front, while his son was at the back. Calling it “a clear attempt to kill me,” he said the attack was aimed at silencing him ahead of crucial court proceedings.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a preliminary inquiry into the collision. Investigators will examine whether it was an ordinary road accident or if foul play was involved. Officials said the CBI is monitoring the police investigation and will take further action after receiving the district police’s formal report.
Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar attacked the Mamata Banerjee government, saying, “When the protection of criminals becomes more important than upholding law and order in a state and when the Chief Minister herself appears desperate to shield such offenders what could be more appalling?"
In a long post on X, he recounted the events and confirmed the deaths of Bhola’s son and the driver. Majumdar claimed the truck was driven by Abdul Halim Mollah, described as one of Shahjahan’s close aides and a fugitive in CBI records.
“It is therefore evident that this was no accident but a cold, calculated act of murder," he wrote, adding that the incident shows how “notorious criminal Sheikh Shahajahan, even while lodged in jail, is systematically eliminating key witnesses.”
Sheikh Shahjahan is a suspended TMC leader from Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas, widely known as a powerful local strongman with significant influence over the area’s political and administrative systems. He is currently in judicial custody facing multiple charges, including land grabbing, sexual assault, and leading an attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials.
Political Rise: Shahjahan rose from working as a driver to becoming a dominant local figure and the TMC’s Sandeshkhali president, overseeing fisheries.
Serious Allegations: Numerous women have accused him and his aides—Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar—of systemic sexual abuse and forcibly taking land for illegal fish farming.
ED Attack: On January 5, 2024, ED officials raided his residence as part of a probe into a multi-crore ration distribution scam. A mob allegedly linked to Shahjahan attacked the officers, injuring them and damaging vehicles, after which he fled.
Arrest: Shahjahan remained absconding for 55 days, triggering major protests in Sandeshkhali and criticism of the state government. He was arrested on February 29, 2024, and later suspended by the TMC for six years.
CBI Investigation: Following a Calcutta High Court order, the CBI took custody of Shahjahan and began investigating the attack on ED officials along with other allegations. The ED has also filed a prosecution complaint and attached assets worth more than ₹27 crore.
Recent Developments: In December 2025, the son of a key witness against him died in a road accident while travelling to court. The CBI has already filed a chargesheet against Shahjahan and his brother in the ED attack case.
