Another Trinamool councillor arrested on extortion, criminal intimidation charges

A fresh wave of arrests has hit Trinamool in Kolkata, with councillors and a party spokesperson taken into custody in separate cases. The detentions have coincided with a dramatic internal split, deepening one of the party's most serious crises.

In Short

• TMC councillor was arrested in a January case under several charges
• Authorities have not disclosed allegations behind Sharma's arrest yet
• Several TMC leaders have been arrested after party's Assembly poll defeat

Kolkata has seen a fresh wave of arrests involving Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, with multiple councillors and a party spokesperson taken into custody over allegations ranging from extortion and cheating to criminal intimidation and property disputes, police said.

In the latest action, Mahesh Kumar Sharma, councillor of Ward No. 42, was arrested by the Burrabazar Police Station on Wednesday in connection with an ongoing investigation. He was taken into custody in a case registered on January 7, 2025, officials said.

Police stated that Sharma has been booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, extortion and criminal intimidation.

However, authorities have not disclosed the specific allegations that led to the registration of the case or his arrest. Further investigation is underway.

In another case, Sachin Singh, TMC councillor of Ward No. 36 in the Narkeldanga area, was arrested following multiple complaints of extortion and irregularities. According to allegations, Singh had been collecting money from parking operators and other local establishments for a prolonged period and had also sought kickbacks linked to civic and development projects. He has additionally been accused of intimidation and assault.

The developments came days after Sudip Polley, councillor of Ward No. 123 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, was arrested on similar charges of extorting several lakh rupees. He was shown protesting slogans and was also targeted with eggs and shoes by demonstrators when produced before a court in Alipore.

Separately, West Bengal Police arrested TMC spokesperson and state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar on charges of allegedly harassing a woman and unlawfully occupying her property for several years. The complainant, Arati Roychowdhury, has alleged that Majumdar entered her house as a tenant around 12 years ago but later stopped paying rent and continued to occupy the premises.

Adding to the turbulence, internal rebellion within the party has unfolded rapidly over a span of just 13 days, marked by an 'accidental' meeting in Delhi, a signature-forgery controversy, and growing unease over the expanding influence of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, alongside an emerging succession battle.

The chain of events is said to have begun with a chance meeting between rebel TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Banga Bhavan on May 22. What followed culminated on Wednesday with 60 MLAs breaking ranks, taking control of the party's legislature wing, and electing Ritabrata Banerjee as their leader. The group also secured formal recognition from the Assembly Speaker.

The developments marked an unprecedented split in the 28-year-old party founded by Mamata Banerjee on January 1, 1998, after her breakaway from the Congress, signalling one of the most serious internal crises in its political history.

- Ends