Former TMC MP Fails to Appear Before Police in Husbands Arrest Case

Kolkata, July 1: Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Aparupa Poddar did not appear before the police at the Serampore police station on Wednesday. She is accused of obstructing police officers while they were arresting her husband, TMC councillor Shakir Ali, who was taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

On Tuesday evening, the police registered a case against the former MP, who has served two terms in Parliament. The allegations state that she interfered with the police’s duties as NIA officials were escorting her husband from their home.

The police had summoned her to the local station, requesting her presence by noon on Wednesday. However, she failed to show up at the designated time.

In the meantime, she was seen at Kolkata’s City Sessions Court when her husband was presented before the NIA’s Special Court, also known as Bankshal Court. Following the court appearance, the hearing commenced.

An officer from the Chandannagar police commissionerate stated, “If she does not appear at the police station, legal action will be taken as per the law.”

There has been no immediate response from Aparupa Poddar regarding her absence from the Serampore police station or the reason for her presence in court. Her lawyer also refrained from commenting on the matter.

On Tuesday, Shakir Ali, a TMC councillor from the Rishra municipality in Hooghly district, was arrested by the NIA in connection with the 2023 Ram Navami violence case.

Later that evening, the police took cognizance of the situation and filed a case against Aparupa for allegedly misbehaving with on-duty government officials and obstructing their work.

Reports indicate that after Shakir’s arrest, a confrontation occurred between Aparupa and a female police officer as NIA and central forces were escorting him to a vehicle. The police officer was addressing the former MP, but Aparupa reportedly brushed her hand away.

It remains unclear whether the charges against Aparupa stem solely from this incident or if they relate to another event that occurred during the NIA’s approximately four-and-a-half-hour search on Tuesday.

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S.C.H./D.K.P.