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Former union minister Sultan Ahmed, Mamata’s strong hand in LS, dies of heart attack

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9 years ago

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Sultan Ahmed

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ahmed was union minister of state for tourism in the UPA-II government when the Congress party and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress were in alliance, he was also a prominent Muslim face of the TMC

~By Sujit Bhar

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee suffered a jolt at the Lok Sabha on Monday (September 4) when her trusted aide and MP Sultan Ahmed suddenly passed away from a cardiac arrest at his home in Kolkata. He was rushed to the hospital, but by then it was too late. He was declared brought dead. He was 64.

Ahmed was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha from the Uluberia constituency of West Bengal. He had also been the Union Minister of State for Tourism in the Manmohan Singh government when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was a partner.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: “Shocked and deeply saddened at the passing of Sultan Ahmed sitting @AITCOfficial LS MP & my long term colleague. Condolences to his family.”

Also expressing shock over the death was TMC MP Derek O’Brien, who said: “Wished him Eid Mubarak on Saturday. Gone today. Stunned at the passing of my colleague Sultan Ahmed MP in Kolkata. Prayers for his family.”

Speaking to the media Pradeep Tandon, CEO of Belle Vue Clinic where Ahmed was rushed to, said: “Sultan Ahmed has expired. He had a massive cardiac arrest at his home at about 11.15-11.30 am. By the time he was brought here it was 12.15 pm. We started the treatment, but we had to declare him brought dead.”

Ahmed was a political organizer par excellence. He had a huge following not only among the minorities in and around Kolkata, but also among football lovers of the state, having been the secretary of the famous Mohammedan Sporting Club of Kolkata for a long time.

While he was reviving the fortunes of the old club, he also gathered around him supporters who would be the platform for his political successes. He was also president of the association of rickshaw wallahs of the city as well as of hand cart pullers, another massive base of following and vote bank.

His rise was through politics, but his rise to fame was through sport, football in particular. He used the Mohammedan Sporting Club’s massive reach across the state as well as in many parts of the country to good effect, uniting many disparate factions. He was Mamata Banerjee’s quiet, yet very useful support in the city.

Ahmed was originally from the Congress and had been two-time MLA from Entally, and a successful one at that. The Congress’ decline in the state became stark with top functionaries jumping ship, of who Ahmed was one.

He has been in controversies as well, especially in the Narada sting case where he was shown taking a wad of notes, purportedly for party funding, but alleged to be a bribe. His bigger worry was his brother, Iqbal Ahmed, who has been a known trouble maker in the city, and was one of the main orgainsers of protests against Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen. It was primarily because of these protests that the self-exiled Nasreen had to leave Kolkata. Iqbal was arrested more than once by the police and was a blot on Ahmed’s career.

Ahmed’s other main strength was his relationship with the media. He always answered calls personally; if he was busy, he would call back. This was one characteristic of Ahmed that endeared him to the media, especially those from West Bengal. And Ahmed used this to effect, being able to argue on a face-to-face basis with journalists that other TMC MLAs would not (they still do not, bearing a strange apathy towards the Fourth Estate).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Asish Banerjee found dead in Rampurhat, Mamata Banerjee aide’s death shocks TMC

Former West Bengal deputy speaker and five-time Rampurhat MLA Asish Banerjee was found dead at a Trinamool Congress office in Birbhum.

Published

3 hours ago

on

August 16, 2026

By

Mamata Banerjee

Former West Bengal Assembly deputy speaker and Trinamool Congress leader Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office next to his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning.

Police said his body was found hanging and was sent for postmortem. A large crowd gathered outside the Trinamool Congress office after news of his death spread.

Who was Asish Banerjee?

Asish Banerjee had served as the deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly when Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was the state’s chief minister. He was also a five-time MLA from Rampurhat.

He had served as Bengal’s education and agriculture minister after Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress first came to power in the state.

Banerjee contested the West Bengal Assembly election earlier this year but lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP’s Dhruba Saha.

Asish Banerjee’s recent party role

Banerjee stepped down as chairman of the Trinamool Congress’s Birbhum district core committee in June. At the time, he said he would continue as a general member of the party.

He lived in the Hattalapara neighbourhood of Rampurhat, with the party office where his body was found located next to his house.

BJP gains in Birbhum

The BJP won six of the 11 Assembly constituencies in Birbhum in the latest state election. This marked a significant change from 2021, when the Trinamool Congress had won 10 seats in the district while the BJP had secured one.

Police have sent Asish Banerjee’s body for postmortem as the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated.

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IPS Officer Nupur Prasad gets Medal for Meritorious Service after Sushant Singh Rajput probe

IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been selected for the Medal for Meritorious Service this year.

Published

1 day ago

on

August 15, 2026

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IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been recognised with the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) this year.

A 2007-batch AGMUT cadre officer, Ms Prasad recently returned to the Delhi Police after completing her tenure with the CBI. She is currently serving as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), where she oversees investigations involving financial and economic crimes.

The award is part of this year’s recognition for police personnel for distinguished and meritorious service. Such honours recognise contributions in areas including investigation, crime prevention, public service, law and order and administration.

Nupur Prasad’s role in Sushant Singh Rajput case

Ms Prasad came into national focus during the CBI investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, 2020.

The case was transferred to the CBI in August 2020 following a complaint by the actor’s family and a legal dispute over jurisdiction.

During her tenure with the agency, Ms Prasad supervised key aspects of the investigation, including the examination of witness statements, forensic evidence and medical records.

In 2025, the CBI filed closure reports, saying its investigation found no evidence of foul play, abetment to suicide or criminal conspiracy in the actor’s death.

Career across Delhi Police, CBI

Ms Prasad has served in several positions during her career, including assignments in the Delhi Police, CBI, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.

Before joining the CBI, she held senior positions in the Delhi Police and became the first Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Shahdara. During her tenure, she worked on establishing the district’s policing framework following its creation.

She also led operations targeting drug networks and illegal gambling activities while focusing on crime-prevention measures.

Later, as DCP of North Delhi, she oversaw security arrangements for major events, including Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort and Delhi University elections.

Community-focused policing initiatives

Beyond investigations, Ms Prasad has been associated with community-focused programmes involving women’s self-defence, youth development, cyber safety and drug de-addiction.

During her CBI tenure, she was also associated with several prominent investigations. Media reports have linked her to cases concerning businessman Vijay Mallya and the AgustaWestland helicopter deal.

Current role in Delhi Police

After completing her assignment with the CBI, Ms Prasad returned to the Delhi Police and took charge as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing.

The latest recognition adds to her career spanning investigations, policing and public service across several challenging assignments.

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Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Independence Day event for 2nd straight year

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Published

1 day ago

on

August 15, 2026

By

Rahul Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Independence Day celebrations at the historic venue on Saturday.

The absence of the two senior Congress leaders comes amid strained relations between the ruling party and the Opposition, which further deteriorated during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that concluded on Thursday.

2024 seating controversy

Rahul Gandhi had attended the Independence Day celebrations in 2024 but his seating arrangement triggered a controversy. The Congress leader, who holds the status of a Cabinet minister as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was seated in the second-last row during the ceremony at the Red Fort.

The Opposition had criticised the seating arrangement, calling it an insult to the people. The Defence Ministry, which organised the event, said the arrangement had been modified to accommodate Olympians at the venue.

According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition is seated in the front row during ceremonial events.

Opposition-ruling party tensions

Relations between the government and the Opposition remained tense during the Monsoon Session, which ended on Thursday.

The session saw repeated clashes between the two sides, with both the Opposition and the ruling party blaming each other for the low productivity of Parliament.

The session began on July 20, with students marching towards Parliament on the first day. Twelve bills were passed during the session, while detailed discussion took place on only one legislation, concerning paper leaks.

The Congress, along with the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, also boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die.

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