CBI arrests fugitive wanted in 2021 post poll murder of WB BJP leader

The CBI on Thursday (August 6, 2026) arrested a key accused in the murder of West Bengal BJP leader Abhijit Sarkar during post-poll violence in the State in 2021, officials said.

The agency arrested Arup Das alias Bapi Das from Guwahati. He had been on the run since August 25, 2021, when the case was registered, they said.

Mr. Das never joined the investigation and had a reward of ₹50,000 for any information that could lead to his arrest, they said.

“The accused has been arrested by the CBI based on human intelligence and technical inputs,” the CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

The agency had taken over the case on the directions of the Calcutta High Court on August 19, 2021.

The CBI has filed charge sheets against 38 accused, including Das and the then TMC MLA Paresh Pal and other leaders of the party, they said.

Sarkar was killed in the Kankurgachi area on May 2, 2021, after the results of the West Bengal assembly elections were announced.