Death of Mamata Banerjee’s niece under investigation

Bristy Mukherjee, the 28-year-old niece of Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was found dead at her family home in Kusumba village in Birbhum district on Tuesday, September 1, according to PTI. Police confirmed the death Tuesday afternoon, The Indian Express reported.

Mukherjee was found dead on the second floor of her house, police said. According to a report by the Free Press Journal, police recovered her body from a room on the second floor after she was found hanging. Authorities are treating the death as a suspected case of suicide, and an investigation is underway to establish the circumstances, the report added.

The body has been sent for an autopsy, and an investigation has begun, The Indian Express reported. The Free Press Journal said the post-mortem examination is being conducted at Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital, citing media reports. Police have said the exact circumstances of the death will be established after the autopsy and further investigation. No definitive conclusion about the cause or circumstances has been announced by authorities at this stage.

Family background and recruitment controversy

Mukherjee was the daughter of Nihar Mukherjee, described as a maternal cousin of Mamata Banerjee and a local TMC leader, both The Indian Express and the Free Press Journal reported. The Indian Express described Nihar Mukherjee as a regional Trinamool leader.

Mukherjee had previously worked as non-teaching staff at an upper primary school in Bolpur, the Free Press Journal reported. Her appointment was among nearly 26,000 teaching and non-teaching positions cancelled in connection with the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment case, the report said. The Calcutta High Court had ordered the cancellation of the appointments, and the decision was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court.

Mukherjee's name reportedly appeared on the list of candidates whose appointments were cancelled, according to the Free Press Journal. Her family had previously maintained that she resigned after working for only a day because of health-related reasons and had not drawn a salary, the report added.

Family cites depression

Sources close to the family said Mukherjee had been battling depression for the past few years and was receiving medical treatment, The Indian Express reported. The Free Press Journal reported that according to family members, she had been dealing with depression for several years and was undergoing treatment.

Some reports have also stated that she was undergoing divorce proceedings, the Free Press Journal reported.

As of the latest reports, there had been no detailed public statement from Mamata Banerjee regarding the death, the Free Press Journal noted.