Bibhas Mukhopadhyay, alias Manu, an All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor representing Ward 4 of Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality in South 24 Parganas district, was arrested by West Bengal Police on extortion charges on Wednesday night, 11 June. Police said Mukhopadhyay was picked up from a hotel in the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass area near Garia, marking the third councillor arrest from the same municipality since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state.

Arrest and Public Reaction

Following his arrest, Mukhopadhyay was taken to his residence and office for search operations. According to reports, a section of local residents gathered at the scene and raised slogans against him, with some allegedly throwing eggs at the councillor. Police maintained order and conducted searches at multiple locations in the area.

Mukhopadhyay's close aide, Papai Ghosh, was also arrested the same night. It is alleged that Ghosh served as a conduit through whom money was extorted from various localities. Investigators are now questioning both individuals to gather further details on the alleged extortion network.

Allegations of Extortion During Previous Tenure

According to police, allegations of extortion against Mukhopadhyay span multiple areas and date back to the period of the previous TMC-led state government's tenure. With his arrest, three TMC councillors from Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality have now been taken into custody since the BJP assumed power in West Bengal.

BJP worker Nitai Majumdar claimed that contractors engaged in government project work were allegedly forced to pay commissions, and those who refused were reportedly prevented from carrying out their assignments.

Government Materials Recovered from Ward 23

Separately, police and municipal officials recovered a large quantity of government and relief materials from an under-construction toilet facility and a TMC office in Ward 23 of Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality. The recovered items included street lights, tarpaulins, cement bags, buckets, and bleaching powder — all of which were allegedly withheld from distribution to residents when needed.

Chandra Ghoshal is the current TMC councillor from Ward 23; before her, her husband Soumen Mohan Ghoshal held the same seat. When approached for comment on the allegations, Chandra Ghoshal declined to respond.

Local Leaders Speak Out

Debprasad Chakraborty, President of Mandal No. 3 of Sonarpur Dakshin Assembly constituency, alleged that government goods were illegally stockpiled and deliberately not distributed when required. A section of area residents corroborated the claim, alleging that extortion had been a persistent problem in the ward for an extended period.

All recovered government materials have been confiscated by police, and a formal investigation is underway. Further arrests cannot be ruled out as questioning of Mukhopadhyay and Ghosh continues.