Bengal civic volunteer arrested for leaking intel to TMC MLA evading rape case
Synopsis
A civic volunteer attached to West Bengal's Intelligence Branch allegedly fed real-time police intelligence to a TMC legislator accused of rape — helping him evade arrest for 17 days. The insider leak, now under intensive probe, exposes a troubling vulnerability at the heart of one of Bengal's most sensitive police units.
Key Takeaways
Bikash Sahani , a civic volunteer with the West Bengal IB , was arrested on 10 November 2026 for allegedly aiding TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das .
Das had evaded arrest for 17 days before being caught at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Monday evening.
Das faces charges including rape (Section 376) , criminal conspiracy, and cheating under Canning PS Case No.
561/2026 , registered on 5 September 2026 .
Sahani allegedly used his IB posting — giving him state-wide police intelligence access — to relay operational updates to the absconding legislator.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari described Das as an identified extortionist who had illegally occupied state government properties in the Canning area.
A West Bengal Police civic volunteer was arrested on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, for allegedly helping Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Paresh Ram Das evade arrest and leak confidential police intelligence to the absconding lawmaker. The volunteer, Bikash Sahani, was attached to the Intelligence Branch (IB) of the state police — a posting that gave him access to sensitive operational data across multiple police stations.
Das, who represents the Canning (Paschim) constituency in South 24 Parganas district, had been evading arrest for 17 days before he was apprehended at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Monday evening while attempting to board a flight to Mumbai.
What Sahani Is Accused Of
Investigators from the Baruipur Police District allege that Sahani not only helped Das plan his escape to Mumbai but also fed him real-time operational updates, allowing the legislator to stay one step ahead of tracking units. Because of his IB posting — which carries state-wide jurisdiction — Sahani reportedly had visibility into sensitive information from multiple police stations simultaneously.
Preliminary findings indicate that Sahani routinely passed on confidential updates to Das. He is currently undergoing intensive interrogation by the investigating team.
The Case Against Paresh Ram Das
Das is the prime accused in Canning Police Station Case No. 561/2026, registered on 5 September 2026, under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code — including Section 376 (rape), Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 420 (cheating), Section 120B (criminal conspiracy), and Section 506 (criminal intimidation). The case had drawn scrutiny partly because Das, a sitting lawmaker, managed to remain at large for over a fortnight before his airport arrest.
Political Background
Das is described as one of the few sitting TMC legislators who continues to align with the party's minority faction loyal to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew. His arrest comes amid a broader political reshuffle within the TMC and heightened scrutiny of lawmakers with pending criminal cases.
What the Chief Minister Said
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari commented sharply on the development, labelling Das an identified extortionist in the Canning region. 'He had illegally occupied many state government properties in the area to set up his own establishment during the previous Trinamool Congress regime,' Adhikari stated. The remarks signal that the ruling dispensation intends to pursue the case aggressively.
What Happens Next
Sahani remains in custody and is being questioned on the full scope of intelligence he may have shared. Investigators are expected to examine whether others within the police apparatus were complicit. The incident raises serious questions about insider access within the IB — and how a civic volunteer, a relatively junior role in the police structure, could wield enough access to compromise an active operation. Further arrests in the case cannot be ruled out.
Point of View
Yet this case suggests the lines between party loyalty and police duty had already blurred. That Das evaded tracking units for 17 days despite an active warrant also raises questions about whether the leak was isolated or part of a wider pattern of tip-offs. The political dimension — a TMC minority-faction MLA, a ruling-party chief minister quick to amplify the case — means the investigation will face pressure from both directions, and the institutional credibility of the IB hangs on how independently it proceeds.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bikash Sahani and why was he arrested?
Bikash Sahani is a civic volunteer attached to the Intelligence Branch of the West Bengal Police. He was arrested on 10 November 2026 for allegedly leaking confidential police intelligence to TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das, helping the legislator evade arrest for 17 days while facing a rape case.
What is the case against TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das?
Paresh Ram Das, MLA from Canning (Paschim) in South 24 Parganas, is the prime accused in Canning Police Station Case No. 561/2026, registered on 5 September 2026. The charges include rape (Section 376), voluntarily causing hurt (Section 323), cheating (Section 420), criminal conspiracy (Section 120B), and criminal intimidation (Section 506).
How was Das finally arrested after 17 days on the run?
Das was apprehended by state police at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Monday evening while attempting to board a flight to Mumbai. He had reportedly used intelligence fed to him by Sahani to stay ahead of tracking units during his 17-day evasion.
What did Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari say about the case?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari described Das as an identified extortionist in the Canning region, alleging that he had illegally occupied state government properties during the previous TMC-led administration to set up his own establishment.
What are the implications of an IB volunteer leaking police intelligence?
The Intelligence Branch holds state-wide jurisdiction and access to sensitive operational data across multiple police stations, making a leak from within it particularly serious. Investigators are examining whether the breach was limited to Sahani or involved others, and further arrests have not been ruled out.
