West Bengal Police on Friday, 25 September 2026, arrested former Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Ajit Maiti in connection with an alleged financial fraud case, in which he is accused of accepting money from a party worker in exchange for a promise to secure a party post. The arrest was made from Maiti's residence in the Madpur area under the Kharagpur police station jurisdiction in West Midnapore district.

Details of the Arrest

According to West Midnapore district police sources, Maiti — who previously represented the Pingla Assembly constituency — was taken into custody Friday morning and subsequently brought to Debra police station. He was later produced before a district court in Medinipur, where the public prosecutor sought his custody for further questioning.

Police stated that the arrest was based on a complaint lodged by the party worker who allegedly paid Maiti with the expectation of receiving a party position in return.

Maiti Calls It Political Vendetta

Speaking to reporters after his arrest, Maiti denied wrongdoing and framed the action as politically motivated. 'I have faith in the judiciary, and I am sure that I will get justice,' the former legislator said.

The TMC leadership echoed this position. Trinamool Congress state secretary Pradyut Ghosh said the timing of the arrest was suspicious, noting that Maiti had been scheduled to meet TMC leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her Kolkata residence on the same day. 'We heard that he was arrested in an old case. He was supposed to go to the residence of our party leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata today and meet her. But he was arrested just before that. This is nothing but a conspiracy,' Ghosh said.

Maiti's Political Background

Maiti was elected to the West Bengal Assembly from the Pingla constituency in the 2021 state elections under the TMC banner. He contested the same seat again in the 2026 Assembly elections but lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate. At the time of his arrest, he held the post of Vice-President of the West Midnapore Zilla Parishad.

Broader Pattern of TMC Arrests Under New Government

This arrest is part of a wider pattern that has emerged since the BJP came to power in West Bengal earlier in 2026. Several former TMC legislators and councillors — including multiple former Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillors — have faced arrest in cases involving allegations of corruption, extortion, and other offences. Critics argue this constitutes a politically driven crackdown; the ruling dispensation maintains it represents lawful enforcement. Notably, the frequency of such arrests involving former TMC figures has accelerated in recent months, raising questions about both accountability and the use of law enforcement as a political instrument. Maiti's case adds to this growing list, and observers will watch whether his custody application is granted and what evidence the prosecution presents before the Medinipur court.