In a significant development, Bidhannagar Police arrested senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) chairman Sabyasachi Dutta late on Tuesday night on allegations of extortion and criminal intimidation. This marks the latest controversy involving leaders of the ruling party in West Bengal.
Details of the Arrest
Dutta, who serves as the councillor of Ward No 31 and chairman of the BMC, was taken into custody following a complaint lodged by a businessman. The complainant alleged that Dutta extorted lakhs of rupees from him in 2018. Based on the complaint, the police filed an FIR and subsequently arrested the TMC leader. Dutta has denied all charges against him.
Political Background
Dutta served as the mayor of Bidhannagar until 2019. He contested the 2026 assembly election from Barasat but lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Known as a political turncoat, Dutta switched to the BJP in 2019 but returned to the TMC two years later. His arrest adds to the series of desertions and legal troubles that have plagued Mamata Banerjee's party since it lost power in West Bengal.
Other TMC Leaders Under Scrutiny
Dutta is the second prominent leader from the area to be arrested, following Sujit Bose, a former minister in the Mamata Banerjee cabinet. Additionally, former sports minister Aroop Biswas is facing a probe, while his brother Swarup, who controlled the Tollygunge film industry, has been arrested. Nearly a dozen councillors from the BMC and Kolkata Municipal Corporation are currently in custody on various charges, including extortion.
Recent Developments
Dutta's arrest came a day after another TMC leader, Jahangir Khan, was arrested by the State Police Special Task Force (STF) near the Nepal border. Khan had been absconding for several days. Officials said the STF tracked his movements using intelligence inputs before carrying out the operation. Police confirmed that seven FIRs were registered against Khan at Falta Police Station in South 24 Parganas district.
These arrests highlight the ongoing crackdown on alleged corruption and criminal activities within the TMC ranks, as the party faces increasing legal challenges in the state.
