Kolkata, June 3: The West Bengal Police have arrested another councillor from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on charges of extortion and corruption. This brings the total number of TMC councillors arrested on corruption charges to three.
According to a senior officer from Kolkata Police, officials from the Garfa police station apprehended Arijit Das Thakur, a councillor from Ward 106, on Tuesday night. He is accused of extorting money from local promoters and businesses through intimidation.
A written complaint had been filed alleging that he had been trying to extort money by interfering in construction and business matters in the area for an extended period. Following preliminary investigations that confirmed the allegations, police arrested him. Initially, the councillor was called in for questioning, but after extensive interrogation, he was taken into custody.
Earlier on Tuesday, police arrested Sachin Singh, a TMC councillor from Ward 36. Sources from Lalbazar (Kolkata Police Headquarters) indicated that he faces similar extortion charges. The Narikel Danga police station team went to arrest him on Tuesday afternoon, during which local residents protested outside his home, accusing him of threatening and assaulting opponents.
Police sources also stated that Sachin is alleged to have been involved in electoral violence following the announcement of the state assembly election results in 2021. That same year, he won the KMC elections for the first time on a TMC ticket. On May 23, the Thakurpukur police arrested Sudip Pole, a TMC councillor from Ward 123 and chairman of Borough Number 16, in a separate extortion case.
It is noteworthy that since the BJP government took power in the state, there has been a crackdown on illegal and criminal activities associated with TMC leaders. The police have been proactive in taking action against anti-social elements and frequently target TMC leaders accused of breaking the law. In the past month, numerous TMC councillors have been arrested across the state on charges of corruption and extortion.
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