Three TMC leaders arrested in South 24 Parganas extortion racket
Synopsis
Three TMC leaders in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas have been arrested for allegedly running a structured extortion racket — collecting money from poor residents through intermediaries in exchange for access to housing, pension, and drinking water schemes. The BJP says the arrests expose a long-running 'cut money' network, but demands action against those higher up the chain.
Key Takeaways
Reshmi Piada , Taimur Piada , and Abdur Razzak Halder — all local TMC leaders — were arrested on Sunday night, 29 June in South 24 Parganas .
The trio allegedly extorted money from residents by promising enrolment in government schemes including housing , old-age pensions , road construction , and drinking water projects.
Investigators allege the collected funds were channelled through a well-organised intermediary network across multiple levels.
The accused are to be produced before the Diamond Harbour sub-divisional court ; police plan to seek custody remand.
BJP leader Kaushik Purkait called the arrests insufficient, demanding action against those who 'masterminded' the network.
Three local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders have been arrested on extortion charges in the Mandirbazar area of South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, police confirmed on Monday, 29 June. The accused allegedly collected money from residents by promising to facilitate access to government welfare schemes in the Krishnapur gram panchayat area.
Who Was Arrested
The three accused have been identified as Reshmi Piada, a resident of Dadpur village in Krishnapur, South 24 Parganas; her husband Taimur Piada; and Abdur Razzak Halder, also a local TMC leader. All three were apprehended at their respective homes on Sunday night by officers of the Mandirbazar police station. They are to be produced before the Diamond Harbour sub-divisional court, with police expected to seek custody for further questioning.
What the Police Said
A senior officer of the Sundarban Police District confirmed the arrests, stating: 'The accused were arrested last night based on complaints lodged by local residents. An investigation is underway, and they will be produced before the court. We will seek police custody to take the investigation forward.'
According to investigators, a formal complaint against the trio was lodged last week, which prompted the Mandirbazar police station to initiate a probe. The investigation reportedly revealed that the accused were actively running an organised extortion network.
How the Racket Allegedly Operated
Police allege that the three leaders exploited their political position to demand money from local residents in exchange for securing benefits under government welfare programmes — including housing schemes, old-age pension enrolments, road construction projects, and drinking water initiatives. According to investigators, payments were routed through intermediaries and funnelled across multiple levels of a structured network.
Several residents reportedly stated that without paying, it was practically impossible to get their names listed under government projects or to have sanctioned work proceed. The scale of the alleged racket, spanning multiple welfare categories, points to a systematic abuse of panchayat-level influence.
Political Reaction
Local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kaushik Purkait welcomed the arrests but argued they did not go far enough. 'This is not an isolated incident. Organised loot has been carried out for a long time in the name of ‘cut money’, depriving common people of their rightful benefits. Many poor families were forced to part with their hard-earned money in the hope of receiving government assistance,' he said.
Purkait added: 'We have repeatedly complained to the administration about this corruption. The police have finally been compelled to act. However, arresting only a few lower-level leaders is not enough. Those who masterminded this network and benefited from the cut money must also be brought to justice.'
What Happens Next
The case is currently under active investigation. Police are expected to apply for custody remand to trace the full network and identify others who may have benefited from the alleged collections. The arrests come amid longstanding allegations of ‘cut money’ culture at the grassroots level in West Bengal — a practice that has drawn repeated criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups alike.
Point of View
When Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself acknowledged it publicly and asked leaders to return the money. That the practice has reportedly persisted and evolved into a structured intermediary network suggests the earlier acknowledgment produced little systemic change. The BJP's demand for action against 'masterminds' is politically convenient, but the underlying structural question — why panchayat-level access to welfare schemes is effectively monetised — remains unanswered regardless of who governs. Until welfare delivery is decoupled from political gatekeepers, arrests of foot soldiers will not dismantle the racket.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the three TMC leaders arrested in South 24 Parganas?
The three accused are Reshmi Piada of Dadpur village in Krishnapur, her husband Taimur Piada, and Abdur Razzak Halder, all local Trinamool Congress leaders. They were arrested on Sunday night by Mandirbazar police station officers.
What is the extortion case about?
The three leaders allegedly demanded money from residents in exchange for securing their names under government welfare schemes such as housing, old-age pensions, road construction, and drinking water projects. Payments were reportedly routed through intermediaries across a structured network.
Where will the accused be produced?
The three arrested TMC leaders are to be produced before the Diamond Harbour sub-divisional court. Police are expected to seek custody remand to continue questioning and trace the wider network.
What is 'cut money' and why is it significant here?
'Cut money' refers to unofficial commissions extracted by political middlemen from beneficiaries of government schemes — a practice that has been a recurring controversy in West Bengal. The BJP alleges this case is part of a long-running organised system, not an isolated incident.
What has the BJP said about the arrests?
Local BJP leader Kaushik Purkait welcomed the arrests but said they were insufficient, arguing that only lower-level operatives had been caught. He called for action against those who masterminded the network and collected the bulk of the extorted funds.
