KOLKATA: In a major enforcement action following the recent political transition in West Bengal, the Kolkata Police on Tuesday arrested two Trinamool Congress (TMC) municipal councillors on charges of systemic extortion. The back-to-back arrests involve Sachin Singh and Arijit Das Thakur, who represent Wards 106 and 36 respectively within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).
The developments come amid a broader anti-corruption crackdown initiated by the newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration, which has begun reopening pending allegations against regional TMC leaders.
High-Profile Arrests and Local Standoffs
The police operations on Tuesday targeted influential municipal representatives, triggering local unrest during the execution of the warrants:
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The Case of Sachin Singh (Ward 106): Personnel from the Narkeldanga police station faced protests from local residents when they arrived at Singh’s residence to take him into custody. Investigators have cited multiple specific complaints against Singh involving extortion, cheating, and the unlawful collection of money. He is accused of demanding kickbacks from local parking operators, commercial establishments, and civic development projects, alongside separate allegations of post-poll violence dating back to the 2021 assembly elections. Singh is scheduled to be produced before the Sealdah court.
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The Case of Arijit Das Thakur (Ward 36): Following Singh’s apprehension, the Kolkata Police arrested councillor Arijit Das Thakur later in the day. Thakur faces formal accusations of intimidation and running extortion networks targeting local real estate developers and independent shopkeepers.
Wider Institutional Crackdown on TMC Representatives
The enforcement drive is not isolated to the capital city, as state authorities expand their scrutiny across multiple municipal corporations where previous complaints are being aggressively pursued:
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Asansol Municipal Corporation: Earlier on Tuesday, the police arrested Tarun Chakraborty, the TMC councillor for Ward 87 in West Burdwan district. Law enforcement officials raided his residence and recovered a hoard of relief packages intended for economically vulnerable citizens. Chakraborty is additionally facing charges related to illegal sand trading, extortion, and siphoning funds meant for public housing projects.
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Kolkata Ward 123: The recent actions follow the May 23 arrest of TMC councillor Sudip Polley, who was detained over the alleged extortion of several lakh rupees. Polley faced intense public anger and hostile demonstrations from local crowds during his subsequent transit to the Alipore court.
The synchronized legal actions against municipal councillors, occurring alongside the recent defection of several elected legislators from the party, have significantly intensified structural and political pressures within the Trinamool Congress hierarchy.
