Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor Shams Iqbal was arrested late on Sunday night on charges of extorting ₹70 lakh from a local businessman in Garden Reach, Kolkata, police confirmed on Monday, 29 June. The arrest marks the latest in a string of cases against former Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) councillors since the change of government in West Bengal.

What the Complaint Alleges

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by complainant Mohammad Shadab at the Garden Reach police station, the accused Shams Iqbal and his associates began extorting money from him in June 2023. The complainant alleged that he was told payment was necessary to operate his business without interference in the area.

Shadab further alleged that a total of ₹70 lakh was forcibly extracted from him over repeated demands, including at gunpoint, and that he and his family were threatened with death if he failed to comply. He stated that fear of retaliation had prevented him from approaching the police earlier.

Who Is Shams Iqbal

Shams Iqbal represented Ward No. 134 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and was a prominent Trinamool Congress leader in the Garden Reach area. He is described as a close associate of former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, with whom he reportedly shared public platforms on multiple occasions.

An FIR has been registered against Iqbal and two named associates — Mohammad Faraz and Feroz Qureshi. Police noted that the accused were considered influential figures in the locality. Charges have been filed under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering extortion and criminal intimidation, along with sections of the Arms Act.

Pattern of Arrests Among Former KMC Councillors

With Iqbal's arrest, approximately 13 former TMC councillors of the KMC have now been taken into custody on charges ranging from extortion to molestation since the political transition in West Bengal. Police said that more complainants are now stepping forward, many of whom had reportedly stayed silent out of fear while the accused were in positions of power.

This is a pattern that investigators and civic observers have noted: allegations surface in clusters once the political protection around accused individuals is perceived to have weakened. Notably, this is not the first Garden Reach-linked TMC figure to face extortion charges in recent months.

KMC and the Firhad Hakim Connection

The KMC civic board is currently being administered by an appointed administrator following the resignation of Mayor Firhad Hakim, with fresh elections yet to be scheduled. Hakim has not been named as an accused in the current case, but Iqbal's close public association with him is likely to draw political scrutiny.

Iqbal was produced before a city court on Monday, with police expected to seek custody for further questioning. Investigators are believed to be examining whether additional complainants will file formal statements.