In a significant development in East Midnapore, the chairman of Egra Municipality, Swapan Nayek, was taken into custody by police on Friday night. His arrest is linked to a major alleged scam involving government land worth multiple crores of rupees.
Arrest and Custody in Land Scam Case
The arrest followed a formal complaint filed against Nayek on December 20 by the Block Land and Land Reforms Officer (BLRO) of Egra-I block. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the municipal chairman is accused of misusing his official authority. The allegations state he facilitated the transfer of premium government land to private entities at prices far below market value.
A Contai sub-divisional court subsequently ordered five days of police custody for Nayek. This will allow investigators to interrogate him thoroughly regarding the extent of the financial irregularities.
Defiance and Political Backlash
This legal trouble comes amidst a period of intense political friction for Swapan Nayek. In November, the top leadership of the ruling Trinamool Congress had instructed the chairpersons of both Tamluk and Egra municipalities to resign from their posts. While the Tamluk chairperson complied immediately, Nayek openly refused to step down, creating headlines and defying the party directive.
His defiance escalated further when six Trinamool councillors from Egra moved a no-confidence motion against him. Reports indicate that Nayek managed to stall the proceedings of this motion, which reportedly angered both his party and the local administration.
Police Investigation and Political Reactions
Explaining the arrest, Superintendent of Police Mitun Kumar De stated that the action was based on specific evidence gathered by investigators. "We need to take him into custody to unearth the full extent of the scam and identify other beneficiaries," De said, highlighting the ongoing nature of the probe.
Interestingly, Nayek has found political support from an unexpected quarter. Bengal's opposition leader, Suvendu Adhikari, has come out in his defence. Adhikari claimed that Nayek is being pressured by the police for doing the right thing and speaking against the Trinamool Congress. "We are with him. He is being browbeaten... We will offer him legal help," Adhikari asserted.
What Happens Next?
The five-day police custody will be a critical phase for the investigation. Authorities aim to uncover the complete network involved in the alleged land transactions and recover relevant documents. The case has brought the issue of land scams and political insubordination in municipal governance into sharp focus in West Bengal.
The developments also underscore the ongoing tensions within the Trinamool Congress at the local level, where defiance by elected functionaries is being met with strong administrative and legal action.
