TMC councillor arrested for allegedly extorting money

A councillor of the ruling Trinamool Congress in Salt Lake area was arrested for his alleged involvement in extorting money from locals.

Kolkata: A councillor of the ruling Trinamool Congress in Salt Lake area was on Tuesday arrested for his alleged involvement in extorting money from locals.

TMC councillor of ward no 41 of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation Anindya Chattopadhyay was arrested by Bidhannagar North Police Station this morning following a complaint from a resident of the AE block that he was "pressurised by the leader" to pay Rs 12,00,000 when he had undertaken a construction work at his residence," a senior officer of Bidhannagar Commissionerate said.

Chattopadhyay was called for questioning at Bidhanagar North Police Station and after he failed to give satisfactory replies, he was arrested in the afternoon, he said.

According to sources in the Bidhannagar Commissionerate, there were several complaints against the councillor and his associates about alleged extortion from locals whenever they tried to initiate construction at their residence.

Chattopadhyay has been charged under Indian Penal Code Sections 384 (Punishment for extortion), 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt), 387 (Putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion), 388 (Extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life), 389 (Putting person in fear of accusation of offence, in order to commit extortion) 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), he said.