CBI nabs most-wanted accused in 2021 BJP worker's murder after 4 years on run

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Arun De, the prime accused in the murder of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar, who was killed in Kolkata’s Kankurgachi area shortly after the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election results. Arun De had been absconding since the incident and was on the CBI's most-wanted list. A reward of ₹50,000 had been announced for information leading to his arrest.

According to the CBI, Arun De is a resident of the Narkeldanga area. He had been evading arrest for four years by hiding his identity and frequently changing locations. The agency confirmed his arrest on Thursday, noting that he was apprehended ahead of the 2026 state elections as part of its intensified effort to track down long-pending accused in cases under its investigation.

The case involves the murder of Abhijit Sarkar, a 30-year-old BJP worker, who was allegedly attacked and killed on May 3, 2021—just a day after the Assembly election results were declared. An FIR was filed against eight individuals, five of whom were arrested soon after. The remaining three, including Arun De, were later traced through follow-up investigations.

Narkeldanga Police had earlier arrested two of the remaining accused before the case was transferred to the CBI. With Arun De’s arrest, all eight accused named in the FIR are now in custody. The CBI had taken over the probe following demands for a central agency investigation into the post-poll violence in West Bengal, during which several incidents involving political workers were reported.

Abhijit’s brother, Biswajit Sarkar, has made multiple visits to the CBI office in connection with the investigation and had submitted several written complaints. He named Trinamool Congress MLA Paresh Pal and local councillor Swapna Samaddar in those complaints, alleging their involvement in the conspiracy behind the murder. No charges have been filed against them so far. The CBI has not issued any public statement regarding further arrests or charges in the case.