In a somber turn of events, the niece of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was found dead at her residence in Birbhum district on Tuesday. The 31-year-old woman, whose mother is a local Trinamool Congress leader, was discovered by family members around noon on the second floor of her home.

Key facts

  • Niece of former CM Mamata Banerjee found dead September 1, 2026
  • 31-year-old woman was daughter of Banerjee's maternal cousin
  • Body discovered at Birbhum residence around 12 p.m.
  • Had been suffering from severe depression for years
  • Lost non-teaching job in March 2023 due to court rulings

A Life Under Strain

The woman had been grappling with multiple pressures in recent years. She worked as a non-teaching staff member in a government school until March 2023, when she lost her position following court decisions that annulled thousands of appointments due to irregularities in the recruitment process. The Calcutta High Court initially scrapped these appointments in 2023, and the Supreme Court upheld the ruling in April 2025.

Personal Struggles

According to police statements from family members, she had been battling severe depression for several years and was undergoing regular psychiatric treatment. Married in 2012, she was reportedly stressed about an ongoing divorce case. No suicide note was found among her belongings.

"Prima facie, her family members stated that she had been suffering from severe depression for the last few years. She was also undergoing psychiatric treatment and medication regularly. She got married in 2012. The victim was probably stressed due to the ongoing divorce case," said Santanu Adhikary, Inspector of Rampurhat Police Station.

Investigation Underway

Police have registered an initial unnatural death report and are questioning family members and relatives. The body has been sent for autopsy while authorities continue to verify the circumstances surrounding her death.