Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Custodial Death: Bengal CM Visits Kin, Suspends Officer, Announces Aid
A man named Birju Keot died while he was in police custody in Halisahar, a town in West Bengal.
The police had arrested him on charges that included extortion.
On Friday he was produced in court, where a judge allowed the police to keep him for five days of custody.
On Saturday, people learned that he had died inside the police lockup.
His wife, Jenny Sharma Keot, a former local councillor, said the police beat him and that is why he died.
She also wrote to the Chief Minister saying the police had physically abused her husband.
On Sunday, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the family but faced protests, with shoes, mud, bricks, and stones thrown at her car; she blamed BJP-backed miscreants.
On Monday, the Chief Minister, called Suvendu Adhikari in the report, visited the family, admitted police negligence, and suspended the investigating officer.
He ordered a magistrate-level investigation and promised the family Rs 10 lakh in aid, monthly help for the widow, and a job for her later.
The government says the autopsy report will make the true cause of death clear.
Birju Keot, husband of former Trinamool Congress councillor Jenny Sharma Keot of Kanchrapara Municipality, died in police custody at Halisahar Police Station in North 24 Parganas.
Arrested on charges including extortion, Keot was produced in court on Friday and remanded in five-day police custody; his death came to light on Saturday.
Jenny Keot alleged her husband died after being beaten by police inside the lockup and had written to the Chief Minister accusing police of physically abusing him.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari admitted police negligence, suspended the investigating officer, and sent the Halisahar inspector-in-charge to police lines.
Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Dola Sen, visited the family on Sunday but faced protests, alleging BJP-backed miscreants hurled shoes, mud, bricks, and stones at her vehicle.
- Who
- Birju Keot, a Trinamool worker and husband of former Kanchrapara Municipality councillor Jenny Sharma Keot; the report identifies Suvendu Adhikari as the state Chief Minister who visited the family, while also referring to Mamata Banerjee as former Chief Minister.
- What
- Keot died in custody at Halisahar Police Station after being arrested on charges including extortion; his wife alleged he was beaten by police, and the government suspended the investigating officer and ordered a magistrate-level probe.
- When
- He was produced in court on Friday and granted five-day police custody; his death came to light on Saturday, Mamata Banerjee visited on Sunday, and the Chief Minister visited on Monday.
- Where
- Halisahar, in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal.
- Why
- Keot was in police custody on extortion and other charges; his wife alleged police physically abused him in the lockup, though authorities said the autopsy report would clarify the actual cause of death.
Family and wife's account
Government and police position
Cause of death
Family and wife's account
Jenny Sharma Keot alleges her husband died after being beaten by police inside the lockup and wrote to the Chief Minister accusing police of physical abuse.
Government and police position
The Chief Minister said the real cause of death will be clearer once the autopsy report arrives and that he cannot yet say how much torture the man died under; action will follow investigation of the police's role.
- Deceased
- Birju Keot
- Location
- Halisahar Police Station, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal
- Arrest charges
- Various charges including extortion
- Court timeline
- Produced in court Friday; five-day police custody ordered; death came to light Saturday
- Investigation
- Magistrate-level probe led by District Magistrate Shilpa Gourisaria
- Police action
- Investigating Officer suspended; Inspector-in-Charge sent to police lines
- Compensation
- Rs 10 lakh ex gratia; Rs 15,000 per month for a year for widow, then Group-D job
- Autopsy
- Report awaited to determine cause of death