TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das arrested at Kolkata Airport in rape case after 17-day manhunt
Synopsis
A sitting TMC legislator accused of rape, extortion, and criminal conspiracy was nabbed at Kolkata airport after 17 days on the run — allegedly mid-flight to Mumbai. The case, rooted in pre-2023 panchayat election coercion, also alleges the victim faced a bomb attack after police initially refused to register her FIR.
Key Takeaways
TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das of Canning (Paschim) was arrested at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata on Monday evening, 10 November 2026 .
Das had been evading police for 17 days and was allegedly attempting to flee to Mumbai when apprehended.
He is accused under Canning PS Case No.
561/2026 (registered 5 September 2026 ) for rape, extortion, cheating, criminal conspiracy, and criminal intimidation.
The victim alleged Das demanded ₹4 lakh under the pretext of an election ticket before the 2023 panchayat elections , then locked her inside a premises and raped her.
The complainant also alleged that police initially refused to register her FIR in 2023 and that her family faced a bomb attack by Das's associates.
Das is to be produced before a South 24 Parganas district court on Tuesday ; prosecutors will seek police custody.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Paresh Ram Das, the sitting MLA for Canning (Paschim) in South 24 Parganas district, was arrested on Monday evening at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata while allegedly attempting to board a flight to Mumbai. Das had been evading law enforcement for 17 days in connection with a high-profile rape and extortion case registered against him.
How the Arrest Unfolded
A special operations group from the Baruipur Police District tracked Das to the airport on specific intelligence inputs and apprehended him with assistance from the Bidhannagar City Police. The joint operation was conducted under the direct supervision of the Superintendent of Police, Bidhannagar Police District. Das had repeatedly failed to respond to summons issued by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police before vanishing in the last week of October.
The Case Against Him
According to an official press release from the Baruipur District Police, Das is named as an accused in Canning Police Station Case No. 561/2026, registered on 5 September 2026, under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The complaint traces back to events ahead of the 2023 panchayat elections. The victim alleged that Das demanded ₹4 lakh from her husband under the pretext of securing an election ticket. When she visited an old age home managed by the legislator to deliver the money, Das allegedly extorted the funds, locked her inside the premises, and raped her.
Alleged Police Inaction and Harassment
The complainant alleged that when she first approached the Canning Police Station in 2023, officers refused to register an FIR. She further alleged that she and her family were subsequently subjected to harassment, threats, and a bomb attack on their residence carried out by Das and his associates. The victim stated that she found the courage to pursue formal legal action only following a recent political regime change in West Bengal.
The investigation was initiated after a complaint was filed with the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Canning. CID officers questioned Das once after the case was formally registered in September, but he went missing shortly before the end of October.
Prior Raids and Political Background
Following Das's disappearance, police raided his residence in Canning and arrested four TMC local leaders in connection with the case, while launching a parallel manhunt for the absconding lawmaker. Das is among the few sitting Trinamool legislators who have reportedly maintained allegiance to the faction led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Das is scheduled to be produced before a district court in South 24 Parganas on Tuesday, where state prosecutors are expected to seek his police custody for further interrogation.
Point of View
The claimed bomb attack on the complainant's residence, and the subsequent three-year silence all point to a pattern where political affiliation functioned as insulation from criminal process. The fact that the victim says she acted only after a regime change in West Bengal raises uncomfortable questions about institutional capture at the local police level. With four TMC local leaders already arrested and the legislator now in custody, the CID's handling of this case will be a litmus test for whether the new political dispensation can hold its own members accountable or whether the investigation stalls once the headlines fade.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das arrested?
Paresh Ram Das was arrested in connection with Canning Police Station Case No. 561/2026, registered on 5 September 2026, which charges him with rape, extortion, cheating, criminal conspiracy, and criminal intimidation. The case stems from an alleged incident linked to the 2023 panchayat elections in which the victim says Das raped her after extorting ₹4 lakh from her family.
Where and when was Paresh Ram Das arrested?
He was arrested on Monday evening, 10 November 2026, at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata while allegedly attempting to board a flight to Mumbai. A joint team from the Baruipur Police District and Bidhannagar City Police carried out the operation.
How long had Paresh Ram Das been evading arrest?
Das had been missing for 17 days, having last been questioned by CID officers in September 2026 before disappearing in the final week of October. Police had previously raided his Canning residence and arrested four TMC local leaders during the manhunt.
What does the victim allege happened to her?
The victim alleges that before the 2023 panchayat elections, Das demanded ₹4 lakh from her husband for an election ticket. When she went to an old age home managed by Das to deliver the money, he allegedly extorted the funds, locked her inside, and raped her. She further alleges that police refused to register her FIR in 2023 and that her family was subsequently threatened and subjected to a bomb attack.
What happens next in the case?
Paresh Ram Das is scheduled to be produced before a district court in South 24 Parganas on Tuesday, 11 November 2026, where state prosecutors are expected to seek his police custody for further interrogation. The CID of West Bengal Police is handling the investigation.
