A long-standing manhunt for a disgraced former government official ended unexpectedly last night in Kolkata’s New Town area. Prashanta Barman, the ousted Block Development Officer (BDO) of Rajganj who had been evading a Supreme Court surrender order for months, was detained by police following a chaotic traffic altercation fueled by alleged drunk driving.

A Drunken Blunder Ends

Months on the Run
Barman, who is the prime suspect in a high-profile murder investigation, had successfully managed to evade law enforcement since January. However, his run from the law came to an abrupt halt due to his own reckless behavior on the streets of Kolkata.

According to local authorities, Barman was driving a luxury black vehicle while heavily intoxicated when he allegedly struck a pedestrian. The impact of the collision threw the pedestrian onto a nearby scooter, resulting in severe leg injuries to the victim.

Viral Video Sparks Public Outrage

The immediate aftermath of the accident was captured on camera by an eyewitness and has since gone viral across social media platforms.

The footage depicts a visibly agitated Barman sitting inside his vehicle, actively confronting the individual filming the incident. In the video, the former bureaucrat can be heard issuing threats and aggressively demanding that the recording be stopped.

The bystander filming the video can be heard accusing Barman of driving under the influence and causing the crash, which quickly drew a crowd and escalated tensions at the scene. New Town police personnel arrived shortly after to bring the situation under control and took Barman into custody.

A History of Serious Allegations

The arrest adds yet another dark chapter to Barman’s already controversial career. The former BDO was already under intense scrutiny regarding his administrative appointment, with lingering allegations questioning how he secured his government post despite reportedly submitting blank examination sheets.

More severely, Barman is the principal accused in the murder of Swapan Kamilshya, a local gold merchant.

The Legal Timeline:

*December 2025:*The Calcutta High Court ordered Barman to surrender in connection with the murder case.

January 2026: Barman challenged the order in the Supreme Court. The apex court dismissed his plea and set a strict deadline for him to surrender by January 23, 2026.

Post-January 2026: Barman went into hiding, forcing the police to officially list him as a “fugitive” in their recent chargesheet.

Current Status

While police have confirmed that Barman was detained last night following the hit-and-run incident in New Town, official sources have not yet clarified whether his detention has been formally converted into an arrest under the existing murder warrant. Law enforcement officials are expected to release a formal statement later today.

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