Sourav Ganguly, former captain of the Indian cricket team and former BCCI president, along with his wife Dona Ganguly, have received death threats, leading to a police investigation in Kolkata. The threats prompted a complaint lodged with the police, raising concerns about the security of the high-profile family.
According to reports, the latest threatening letters were opened on Monday at the office of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), where Ganguly currently serves as president. These letters, written in English, reportedly contained explicit threats to “eliminate” or “finish” Ganguly and his family members. The complaint filed by Ganguly’s private secretary, Tania Bhattacharya, and his personal assistant, detailed the serious nature of these communications.
Investigation Underway
The Kolkata Police have initiated an investigation into the matter after a formal written complaint was lodged at Thakurpukur Police Station in south Kolkata. Police officials have stated that the complaint is being taken seriously, and efforts are underway to identify the sender and determine the motive behind the threats. The state government’s security department has also been alerted to review the security arrangements for Ganguly and his family.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the letters may have been sent via a courier service. The sender’s name on the packet was listed as Arun Kumar, reportedly a resident of Belgharia in the North 24 Parganas district. Investigators have traced a phone number mentioned in one of the letters, and a ‘Truecaller’ search reportedly returned the same name.
Police are examining the contents of the letters, their source, and the courier trail. They are also investigating whether the individual named Arun Kumar is indeed the sender, or if someone else is using his identity to target the former India skipper. The movement of the SIM card allegedly used by the sender is also being tracked, and the courier agency has been contacted for further details regarding the consignments.
Previous Threats and Escalation
Family sources indicated that similar threatening letters have been arriving for approximately six months. Initially, these were not taken seriously and were often dismissed as communications from overzealous fans. However, the aggressive language and explicit nature of the most recent letters prompted the family to seek police intervention.
The complaint highlighted that while earlier letters contained “objectionable remarks” and “hate remarks,” the two letters received on Monday escalated to “explicit threats to life and personal safety” for Ganguly, Dona Ganguly, and their staff. The police are also checking if all the letters were sent by the same person and are working to establish the reason behind the alleged threats.
The security department is currently reviewing the threat level to determine if additional security measures are required for Ganguly, given his public profile. The investigation continues to identify the person responsible for sending these threatening letters.
The complaint explicitly requested the police to take necessary action, register and investigate the complaint, identify the person responsible, and take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of Sourav Ganguly, Dona Ganguly, and the staff working with them.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
