Bengal job fraud: Ex-Trinamool panchayat chief Basanti Biswas arrested in North 24 Parganas
Synopsis
A former Trinamool Congress panchayat head in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas has been arrested for allegedly swindling unemployed youth out of several lakhs under a false job-guarantee scheme. Her husband was arrested weeks earlier. The case came to a head only after victims petitioned Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directly — spotlighting how the change of government has unlocked complaints that allegedly went unheard during the Trinamool regime.
Key Takeaways
Basanti Biswas , former Trinamool Congress Panchayat Pradhan of Charghat Panchayat , Swarupnagar , was arrested on 5 October 2026 on charges of financial fraud and extortion.
She and her husband Nikhil Ranjan Biswas allegedly collected several lakhs of rupees from job-seekers in 2023 , promising government employment that never materialised.
Nikhil Ranjan Biswas was arrested earlier on 12 September and remains in judicial custody.
Complainants allege they were unable to get relief while Trinamool Congress was in power; the case moved after victims approached Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at a public hearing.
Basanti Biswas is to be produced before the Basirhat Sub-Divisional Court ; complainants say more accused remain at large.
Former Trinamool Congress panchayat head Basanti Biswas was arrested on Monday, 5 October 2026, on charges of financial fraud and extortion in Charghat Panchayat, Swarupnagar, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, police confirmed. Biswas, a former ICDS employee who rose to become Trinamool Panchayat Pradhan, is accused of collecting several lakhs of rupees from unemployed youths under the promise of securing them government jobs — promises that were never fulfilled.
The Fraud Allegations
According to police, Basanti Biswas and her husband Nikhil Ranjan Biswas allegedly collected large sums of money from multiple individuals in 2023, including Swarupnagar resident Mazar Ali, pledging government employment in return. When the jobs failed to materialise and complainants sought refunds, the couple allegedly resorted to threats and intimidation. The main charges against them include extortion and financial fraud.
Complainants allege that Basanti was shielded from accountability during the Trinamool Congress regime because her party was in power at the time. It was only after the change of government in West Bengal that multiple complaints were filed at the local police station.
How the Arrest Came About
Several aggrieved persons, including complainant Mazar Ali, approached Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at his public hearing to seek justice. The Chief Minister reportedly heard the matter and instructed the administration to take action. Nikhil Ranjan Biswas was arrested first on 12 September and remains in judicial custody. His wife Basanti was arrested on Monday and is set to be produced before the Basirhat Sub-Divisional Court.
Complainants Speak Out
Complainant Mazar Ali alleged that Basanti had amassed assets worth crores of rupees and systematically defrauded unemployed youth. “They should get the punishment they deserve. The Chief Minister has responded to our appeal. There are a few more people involved in this fraud ring. Hopefully, they will also be arrested soon,” Ali said.
Political Reactions
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brindaban Sarkar said the arrest carried a broader message for the region. “After the arrest of former Trinamool Panchayat Pradhan Basanti Biswas, it is clear to the locals that this government will not tolerate corruption. Whether the corruption was in the past or now, the guilty will be punished,” he said.
This case is part of a wider pattern of complaints against former ruling-party functionaries in West Bengal following the change of government, with victims who allege they were earlier unable to obtain relief now approaching the new administration. The case is likely to intensify political scrutiny on the Trinamool Congress ahead of upcoming local body elections.
Point of View
But the structural question it raises — why local police did not act in 2023 — deserves equal scrutiny regardless of which party benefits. If multiple such arrests follow, they could either reflect a genuine accountability drive or risk sliding into selective political targeting; the credibility of the process will depend on whether the law is applied evenly.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Basanti Biswas and why was she arrested?
Basanti Biswas is a former Trinamool Congress Panchayat Pradhan of Charghat Panchayat in Swarupnagar, North 24 Parganas. She was arrested on 5 October 2026 on charges of financial fraud and extortion after allegedly collecting several lakhs of rupees from unemployed youth in 2023 under the false promise of government jobs.
What happened to her husband Nikhil Ranjan Biswas?
Nikhil Ranjan Biswas was arrested earlier on 12 September on the same charges and remains in judicial custody. His wife Basanti was arrested subsequently on Monday, 5 October 2026.
Why did it take so long for action to be taken against the couple?
Complainants allege that Basanti Biswas escaped action because the Trinamool Congress was in power at the time of the alleged fraud. Multiple complaints were filed at the local police station only after the change of government in West Bengal, and the case gained traction after victims approached Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at his public hearing.
What will happen next in the case?
Basanti Biswas is to be produced before the Basirhat Sub-Divisional Court. Complainant Mazar Ali has said that a few more individuals are allegedly part of the fraud ring and has expressed hope that they will also be arrested soon.
What is the political significance of this arrest?
The BJP has used the arrest to argue that the current government will not shield corrupt functionaries, regardless of when the offence occurred. The case is drawing wider attention as part of a broader pattern of complaints against former ruling-party officials in West Bengal following the transition of power.
