Former Block Development Officer (BDO) Prashant Barman, accused in the abduction and murder of gold trader Swapan Kamilya at Salt Lake's Dattabad in Kolkata, was arrested around midnight on Monday, 26 May 2025 in New Town on the outskirts of the city — and reportedly continued to assert influence and misbehave with police personnel through the night, officials said on Tuesday. The arrest came after months of abscondence and multiple court-ordered surrender deadlines that Barman had defied.

How the Arrest Unfolded

According to Bidhannagar City Police, the arrest was coincidental. Barman, allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, rammed his car into a two-wheeler rider in New Town. When the rider blocked his path and asked him to step out, Barman allegedly began abusing him instead of apologising. As bystanders gathered, he reportedly directed abuse at them as well. A local resident recorded the incident and circulated it on social media, though the authenticity of the video could not be independently verified.

Officers from the Eco Park Police Station arrived at the scene, detained Barman, and took him to the station, where he was formally arrested. When asked to undergo a breathalyser test, he allegedly refused and physically pushed away officers who insisted on the procedure.

Defiance Inside the Police Station

Police officials stated that Barman's unruly behaviour continued even after he was placed in the police vehicle. He reportedly attempted to occupy the middle seat of the vehicle and had to be repeatedly instructed to move to the back. Once at the Eco Park Police Station, he allegedly continued to misbehave with officials. When officers confiscated his phone, Barman reportedly demanded it back and threatened to contact the state Chief Secretary. Eyewitnesses said police maintained a restrained approach throughout. Officers at the station subsequently contacted the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate for further directions, and a decision on next steps was awaited, according to sources.

The Murder Case Background

Barman, formerly the BDO of Raiganj Block in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal, has been accused of abducting and killing gold merchant Swapan Kamilya in October 2024. Kamilya's body was recovered from near a canal at Dattabad, Salt Lake. Barman was described as a close associate of leaders from the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), which was the ruling party in West Bengal at the time of the alleged offence.

A Trail of Defied Court Orders

Barman had managed to secure an anticipatory bail from a sub-divisional court, but the Bidhannagar City Police challenged it before the Calcutta High Court, which rejected the bail and ordered him to surrender by 22 December 2025. He failed to comply, prompting the Bidhannagar Court to issue an arrest warrant. Barman then moved the Supreme Court, where a bench of Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Vijay Bishnoi directed him to surrender by 23 January 2026. He defied that order as well and remained at large — even as multiple sightings were reported across Kolkata — until his chance arrest on Monday night.

What Happens Next

With Barman now in custody, investigators are expected to pursue formal remand proceedings and examine his movements during the months he spent evading arrest. The case, which has drawn attention to alleged political connections shielding accused officials, is likely to face renewed scrutiny.