Murshidabad, December 28, 2025 – Golam Nabi Azad, son of Janata Unnayan Party (JUP) chief Humayun Kabir, was arrested on Sunday following accusations of assaulting a police constable at his family residence in Murshidabad district. The arrest has ignited a political firestorm, with Kabir alleging political vendetta by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
According to police reports, the constable, Jumma Khan, who was posted at Kabir's residence, filed a complaint at Shaktipur police station. Khan alleged that Azad, also known as Sohel, assaulted him on Sunday morning when he requested a few days of leave. A senior police officer confirmed that Azad was taken into custody for questioning based on the complaint and that the matter is currently under investigation, with necessary legal action to follow.
Humayun Kabir, the JUP chief and a former TMC MLA, has vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that his son was falsely implicated. Kabir stated that his son objected to a policeman entering their house, which he believes triggered the false accusations and subsequent arrest. He further alleged that the police had cordoned off his residence following the incident. Kabir, who was away on personal work when the incident occurred, accused the police of acting on behalf of the TMC to politically target him and his newly formed party.
"A police force cannot cordon the house of an elected representative under flimsy pretext," Kabir told reporters in Berhampore, decrying the arrest as illegal and demanding his son's immediate release. In response to the incident, Kabir announced plans to protest at the SP's office in Murshidabad on January 1, demanding explanations from senior police and administration officials.
The TMC has refuted Kabir's claims of political vendetta. TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty stated that Azad had committed a cognizable offense by assaulting a police officer and that the police were simply following the law. Chakraborty denied any involvement of the ruling party in the arrest, asserting that the police action was impartial and justified.
Humayun Kabir has a long and varied political history. He was suspended from the TMC in December 2025 after making controversial statements about constructing a Babri Masjid-style mosque. Following his suspension, Kabir launched the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP) in December 2025, declaring his intention to contest the 2026 Assembly elections. Kabir has been critical of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of being inaccessible to the common person and alleging a tacit understanding with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Kabir's political journey includes stints with the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before returning to the TMC in 2021. He has often been described as a "political maverick" known for switching parties. With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, the arrest of his son has further intensified the political atmosphere in Murshidabad. The incident has raised questions about potential political motivations and the impartiality of law enforcement, as both sides trade accusations of abuse of power.
