New Delhi: Two days before the high-octane second phase of West Bengal polls, an IPS officer’s conduct further charged the political atmosphere in the state, with the SP and TMC accusing him of acting as a BJP agent. Ajay Pal Sharma of UP cadre—appointed by the Election Commission as a police observer in West Bengal—has been accused of threatening supporters of TMC leader Jahangir Khan.
“If you intimidate or threaten the public, you will be dealt with severely. Don’t cry or regret later,” said Sharma in a video posted by the BJP West Bengal’s X account. He was talking to residents of the Falta constituency of South 24 Parganas district, where Khan’s family lives. Khan is contesting the Assembly polls on a TMC ticket from Falta.
Ajay Pal Sharma allegedly received a complaint against Khan for intimidating voters, following which he reached Falta. Teams of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Flying Surveillance Team (FST) and Quick Response Team (QRT) carried out searches in the area.
The BJP, however, sees Sharma’s deployment as justified.
“Ajay Pal Sharma, the encounter specialist and Singham of UP police, is deployed as police observer of South 24 Parganas. He just read the riot act to Bhaipo’s henchman, Jehangir Khan’s family members. Nobody can stop this election from being the most free and fair election in 50 years and anyone who dares to act oversmart will be taught a lesson,” wrote BJP West Bengal on X.
Khan is considered to be close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee.
Immediately after the BJP shared the video, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav also shared a video of Sharma questioning security personnel stationed outside what looks like a TMC office.
“In West Bengal, the BJP has sent vetted agents to Rampur and Sambhal in the name of observers, but they will achieve nothing. Didi is here, Didi will remain there! When the right time comes, all the criminal activities of these “agenda agents” of the BJP and its allies will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished,” Akhilesh Yadav wrote on X.
He called Sharma an “unregistered underground member of unregistered individuals posing as officials” and a “criminal of democracy”.
TMC MP, Mahua Moitra, also posted a video of Ajay Pal Sharma dancing with women to Bollywood item songs.
Fair & lovely Babua @DripsAjaypal – good to see you enjoying yourself FantaCop style. Stay Thanda Thanda Cool Cool. Bengal is always Trinamool. pic.twitter.com/CYfJ1q3pzn
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 28, 2026
The TMC called Ajay Pal a notorious Singham, saying, Sharma is “infamous for his trigger-happy “thok do” attitude.”
In the video shared by the BJP, Sharma can also be heard threatening Khan indirectly.
“Jahangir’s family members are also here. Tell him what I’ve said here clearly. I’m getting repeated tips that his people are threatening voters. Don’t cry and apologise later.”
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Who is Ajay Pal Sharma?
Ajay Pal Sharma is a 2011 batch IPS officer. He was a dental surgeon before joining the IPS. Originally from Ludhiana, Sharma’s younger brother, Amit Pal Sharma, is an IAS officer.
According to media reports, Ajay Pal Sharma has conducted over 500 encounters in his 15-year career and killed 15 accused in these operations.
Forty-one-year-old Sharma is currently posted as Additional Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) in Prayagraj. He had served as Superintendent of Police (SP) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Shamli, Rampur, Jaunpur, Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida), and Muzaffarnagar.
Sharma, who serves in the Yogi Adityanath government, was removed from the post of DP of Rampur in January 2020 and sent to the Police Training Centre in Unnao. This action was taken following an internal report alleging irregularities in his posting.
An SIT investigation recommended a vigilance probe into the matter. He was also accused of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and destruction of evidence, and a case was also filed against him. Sharma had denied all accusations.
In another controversy surrounding Sharma, a woman in 2020 claimed to be IPS Sharma’s wife, alleging they married in 2016 and that the relationship ended later. She later accused Sharma of using his power to initiate police cases against her after their relationship ended.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)