Son of Sandeshkhali case key witness killed as truck rams car, family cries 'planned murder' by 'known driver'

The crash killed his younger son and the driver, triggering allegations from the family that the incident was a planned attempt on his life.

Bholanath Ghosh, 64, a crucial witness in cases being probed by the CBI and ED against former Trinamool strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, was travelling to Basirhat court to testify in a land-grab case when the collision occurred around 9:17 am. 

The spot, near the Boyamari petrol pump under Nazat police station, is not covered by CCTV cameras.

Two dead, witness survives crash

Ghosh was seated beside the driver, Shahanur Molla, while his younger son Satyajit occupied the rear seat.

The truck slammed into their vehicle with such force that it rolled into a roadside ditch filled with water. Villagers had to cut the mangled car open to pull the occupants out.

Satyajit and Shahanur were declared dead on arrival at Minakhan Rural Hospital.

Ghosh, suffering injuries to his face and neck, was shifted to a Kolkata private hospital and discharged later in the evening.

‘Planned murder’

The family alleges the crash was not an accident but a coordinated attack.

Ghosh claimed he saw the truck driver—identified as Alim Mollah—jump out before the impact.

His elder son, Biswajit, accused Shahjahan and his local associates of orchestrating the attack from behind bars.

“This is 100% murder,” Biswajit said, alleging the truck driver hails from Laukhali in Sandeshkhali and is known to their family.

He named Nazat panchayat samiti head Sabita Roy and her deputy, Moslem Sheikh, as alleged collaborators, though both denied the charges.

Accused driver Alim Mollah has been absconding since the incident, though his wife, who is a TMC panchayat member, claimed her husband was innocent.

Police investigate ‘all angles’

Basirhat SP Hossain Mehdi Rahman confirmed that police are exploring every possibility, including sabotage. A manhunt is underway for the truck’s driver and owner.

Legal practitioners in Basirhat noted that Ghosh and Shahjahan come from the same neighbourhood.

Ghosh had reportedly faced intimidation for years; in 2021, his home was allegedly vandalised, and he was forced to flee after being implicated in multiple cases that he claims were fabricated.

Shahjahan, expelled from Trinamool after his arrest in February 2024, remains in jail on charges of gang-rape, extortion, and large-scale land-grab in Sandeshkhali.

Political storm over alleged murder attempt

The collision has triggered a political war of words. Junior Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar posted on X that the truck was allegedly being driven by Abdul Halim Mollah, a close aide of Shahjahan and a fugitive in CBI records.

He described the crash as a “cold, calculated act of murder.”

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari renewed demands to shift all Shahjahan-related trials outside West Bengal, citing concerns over witness safety.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh responded by urging BJP leaders to share any information they claim to possess with investigating agencies.

He added that Bengal police conduct “fair and proper investigations,” while pointing to witness-related crimes reported from BJP-ruled states.