Image: Indian Express
West Bengal Police summon Mira Sultana over alleged illegal wetland construction linked to her husband, AJUP chief Humayun Kabir, raising significant legal issues.
GlipzoOn Wednesday, police in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, summoned Mira Sultana, the wife of Humayun Kabir, the chairperson of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) and a suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator. This summons is linked to allegations regarding the illegal construction of their house on a wetland—a serious charge that has raised eyebrows in the region.
Authorities have indicated that encroaching on government land and filling wetlands without permission is a cognizable offense. Sultana had previously received a show-cause notice from the Land and Land Reforms Department, but her lack of response led to the lodging of a First Information Report (FIR).
The property in question is located in Manikyahar village, where the house is registered under Sultana’s name. Allegations suggest that the construction was carried out without the necessary change in land classification and that the site was built over a nala, or drainage channel, which is typically part of a wetland ecosystem.
Last month, the Land and Land Reforms Department issued a formal notice to Sultana, revealing that approximately 0.2 acres of land in Manikyahar Mouza, JL No. 92, Plot No. 4404 had been illegally altered. This notice was prompted by a petition signed by several local residents. Sultana was given a seven-day deadline to respond, detailing the nature of the alleged illegal alterations and to justify why action should not be taken against her under the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955.
In West Bengal, land designated as 'nala' refers to small drainage channels or water bodies essential for water management. Altering the classification of such lands or filling them without appropriate permissions is strictly prohibited. Officials contend that these laws have been breached, which could lead to significant legal repercussions for Sultana and her family.
In defense of the construction, Humayun Kabir stated that his family has resided in the house for nearly 18 years. He claimed that during the previous Left Front government, he had made numerous attempts to request a change in the land’s classification to homestead (residential) status. Kabir argues that there were no objections from the administration at the time of the house's construction, suggesting that the issue may have arisen from a change in governance rather than any wrongdoing on their part.
This case is not the only legal challenge facing Kabir's family. Recently, his son-in-law, Raihan Ali, was summoned under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Ali was called to appear for questioning on February 28, following police actions that included seizing 14 properties and 15 bank accounts linked to him, his father Shariful Islam, and Kabir's daughter Nazma Sultana. These actions stemmed from a court order related to a 2025 case, highlighting the family's ongoing legal troubles.
The developments surrounding these allegations highlight the importance of local journalism in bringing transparency and accountability to political figures. Tanusree Bose, a journalist for The Indian Express in Kolkata, has been closely covering the intricate political landscape of West Bengal. Her focus on administrative and judicial affairs sheds light on the often complex interactions between politics and the law in the region.
The summons of Mira Sultana by the West Bengal Police marks a significant moment in the ongoing scrutiny of political figures and their families regarding land use and environmental laws. The allegations of illegal construction on wetland have not only raised questions about the legality of the family's actions but also emphasized the broader issues of governance, land management, and accountability in West Bengal. As this case unfolds, it may set important precedents for future legal and political battles in the state.
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