Kolkata: Sourav Ganguly and wife Dona receive death threats, police launch probe
Sourav Ganguly, former India captain and president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), along with his wife Dona Ganguly, have received death threats, prompting a police investigation in Kolkata. The threats were contained in letters sent to Ganguly’s office, leading to a formal complaint filed with the police.
According to the police complaint, threatening letters have been arriving for approximately six months. Initially, these were not taken seriously. However, two letters received on Monday at Ganguly’s office reportedly contained explicit threats to kill him and his wife, and to harm individuals close to them.
Police Investigation Underway
The Kolkata Police have initiated an investigation to identify the sender and determine the motive behind the threats. A senior police officer confirmed that the complaint is being taken seriously, with efforts focused on examining the letters, their origin, and the courier trail.
Preliminary findings suggest that the letters may have been sent via a courier service by an individual from Belgharia in the North 24 Parganas district. Investigators are also looking into the movement of a SIM card allegedly used by the sender and have contacted the courier agency for details regarding the consignments.
The police are checking if all the letters were sent by the same person and are working to establish the reason for the alleged threats. A phone number mentioned in one of the letters was traced, and a ‘Truecaller’ search reportedly showed the name Arun Kumar, a resident of Belgharia.
The investigation aims to determine whether the real Arun Kumar sent the letters or if someone else is using his identity to target the former India skipper. The state government’s security department has been alerted and asked to take immediate steps, with a security review underway for Ganguly and his family.
Details from the Complaint
The formal written complaint was lodged at Thakurpukur Police Station by Ganguly’s private secretary, Tania Bhattacharya, and his personal assistant. The complaint highlighted that while objectionable remarks against Ganguly had been received for a couple of months, the recent letters escalated to explicit threats against the lives and safety of Mr. Ganguly, Mrs. Dona Ganguly, and their staff.
The complaint stated, "For the past couple of months, we have been receiving letters from unknown person objectionable remarks against Mr. Ganguly. Initially we didn’t pay much attention to these letters, assuming that they were merely the work of someone who disliked Mr. Ganguly and was sending letters expressing his/her personal resentment." It further detailed, "However, today we have received two letters addressed to Mr. Sourav Ganguly and Mrs. Dona Ganguly, in which the sender has not only made hate remarks against Mr. Ganguly but has also issued serious threats to the life and safety of Mr. Ganguly, Mrs. Dona Ganguly and the people working [with/for] him."
Police officials have assured Ganguly’s assistant that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the family. The latest letter, opened on Monday, was written entirely in English and contained explicit threats to ‘eliminate’ or ‘finish’ the cricketer and his family.
Family sources indicated that the repeated nature and aggressive language of the most recent letters prompted them to approach the police after initially dismissing earlier notes as coming from overzealous fans. The police probe is ongoing, examining the contents of the letters, their source, and the courier trail.
The complaint requests the police to register and investigate the matter, identify the person responsible, and take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of Sourav Ganguly, Dona Ganguly, and their staff.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
