{
  "id": 1208238,
  "title": "Asish Banerjee, former Bengal Minister and Trinamool leader, found dead in party office",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/asish-banerjee-former-bengal-minister-and-trinamool-leader-found-dead",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T05:36:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/asish-banerjee-former-bengal-minister-and-trinamool-leader-found-dead-in-party-office/article71352050.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former West Bengal Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Ashis Banerjee was discovered lifeless on Sunday morning inside a party office situated close to his residence in Birbhum district of West Bengal. The 75-year-old politician had served as a five-term Trinamool Congress Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and was the Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from 2021 to 2026. He lost the 2026 Assembly elections to Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate Dhruba Saha. A note was found beside his body, which stated that he was not involved in any wrongdoing. The note read, \"I had nothing to do with corruption and yet all these completely false allegations to malign me.\" Banerjee, who was a teacher at Rampurhat College, was known for his clean image. The Trinamool Congress alleged that he was implicated in the Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority controversy, where he had served as the chairperson. Political leaders from various parties expressed their sorrow over the premature demise of the Trinamool Congress leader. Following the state's political shift, several Trinamool Congress leaders are under investigation for alleged corruption during the previous regime. Several former leaders and MLAs have been arrested. Those in need can seek help and counseling by contacting the Lifeline Foundation (033 24637401, 033 24637432, 91639 40404, 90880 30303), Samikhani (033-24663504, 7044087949), or by calling the National/KIRAN Mental Health Helpline at 1800-599-0019 (24x7).",
  "summary": "A note was found claiming he was not involved in corruption and that attempts were being made to malign him; his body has been sent for autopsy",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV - India News",
        "title": "Asish Banerjee, Ex Bengal Deputy Speaker, Found Dead At Trinamool Office",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/asish-banerjee-ex-bengal-deputy-speaker-found-dead-at-trinamool-office",
        "published": "2026-08-16T02:56:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Ex-Bengal deputy speaker Ashis Banerjee found dead at TMC office in Birbhum",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/ex-bengal-deputy-speaker-ashis-banerjee-found-dead-at-tmc-office-in",
        "published": "2026-08-16T03:03:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}