LIC moves Alipore police to reclaim 21 kathas of land from Biswas brothers in Kolkata
Synopsis
LIC has filed a police complaint to reclaim 21 kathas of its land in Kolkata, allegedly occupied for years by the Biswas brothers for Suruchi Sangha's Durga Puja. With Swarup Biswas now arrested on extortion charges and the club vandalized, the case has blown open questions about illegal construction, stockpiled government goods, and political patronage in one of Bengal's most high-profile community festivals.
Key Takeaways
LIC approached Alipore police station on Saturday, 6 June to reclaim 21 kathas of land allegedly occupied by the Biswas brothers .
Swarup Biswas was arrested on 5 June on charges of extortion and molestation; brother Aroop Biswas is a former West Bengal state minister.
LIC alleged an illegal three-storey structure with multiple bedrooms was constructed on its land without authorisation.
An agitated crowd vandalised the Suruchi Sangha Club following Swarup's arrest.
Government water bottles ( 'Pranadhara' ) and relief saris were reportedly found stockpiled inside the club premises.
Previous LIC attempts to recover the land — including court proceedings — had reportedly failed.
The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has approached Alipore police station in Kolkata to reclaim 21 kathas of its land allegedly occupied for years by former West Bengal minister Aroop Biswas and his brother Swarup Biswas, who was arrested on 5 June on charges of extortion and molestation. The complaint, lodged on Saturday, has cast fresh uncertainty over the future of Suruchi Sangha's celebrated Durga Puja, one of Kolkata's most prominent community festivals.
The Land Dispute
According to LIC officials, the Biswas brothers have been forcibly occupying the corporation's 21-katha plot for several years. The Suruchi Sangha Club — long associated with the brothers and widely regarded as their political stronghold — has been conducting its annual Durga Puja on this land. LIC officials further alleged that an illegal three-storey structure with multiple bedrooms has been constructed on the site in complete violation of the law, effectively surrounding and enclosing the corporation's property.
Previous Attempts to Recover the Land
This is not LIC's first attempt to reclaim the plot. Officials stated that multiple prior efforts — including approaching the courts — had failed to restore possession. The fresh complaint to Alipore police comes in the wake of Swarup Biswas's arrest, which has weakened the brothers' political standing and apparently emboldened the corporation to pursue the matter again. Police confirmed that LIC officials had approached the station in this regard.
Vandalisation and Political Fallout
The arrest of Swarup Biswas triggered immediate unrest. An agitated crowd stormed the Suruchi Sangha Club on 5 June and vandalised it extensively. The incident has accelerated scrutiny of the club's operations and its ties to the ruling establishment in West Bengal. Aroop Biswas, a former state minister, has not been arrested but faces mounting allegations linked to the club's activities.
Government Goods and Corruption Allegations
Searches of the club premises reportedly turned up a large quantity of bottles of government drinking water labelled 'Pranadhara' as well as a significant number of saris intended for relief distribution — both allegedly stockpiled through irregular means. Locals have raised allegations of widespread fraud after the discovery. The presence of furnished bedrooms inside the club building has also drawn public controversy, with critics questioning how a community club came to house such facilities on land it does not legally own.
What Happens Next
With Swarup Biswas in custody and a fresh police complaint now on record, the immediate question is whether law enforcement will act on LIC's land-recovery request. The fate of Suruchi Sangha's Durga Puja — which draws large crowds annually — hangs in the balance, as the festival is held on the very land now under dispute. Legal proceedings are likely to follow, and the case is expected to intensify political pressure on the ruling party in West Bengal in the months ahead.
Point of View
With courts and institutions unable or unwilling to act. The discovery of government-branded relief goods inside a private club is the more damaging detail — it suggests a pipeline between state resources and political patronage that goes well beyond a land encroachment. Bengal's ruling establishment now faces a compounding crisis: a high-profile arrest, a vandalized club, and a central institution publicly alleging what locals have apparently known for years. The real test is whether Alipore police act on the LIC complaint now that the political protection has visibly weakened — or whether the case quietly stalls again.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has LIC approached the police over land in Kolkata?
LIC has filed a complaint at Alipore police station alleging that former minister Aroop Biswas and his arrested brother Swarup Biswas have forcibly occupied 21 kathas of LIC-owned land for several years. The land is reportedly used to host Suruchi Sangha's annual Durga Puja, and LIC alleges an illegal three-storey structure has also been built on the plot.
Who is Swarup Biswas and why was he arrested?
Swarup Biswas is the brother of former West Bengal minister Aroop Biswas and is associated with the Suruchi Sangha Club in Kolkata. He was arrested on 5 June on charges including extortion and molestation.
What is Suruchi Sangha and why does this matter?
Suruchi Sangha is one of Kolkata's most prominent community Durga Puja organisers, closely linked to the Biswas brothers. The controversy matters because the festival is held on land LIC claims to own, raising questions about whether the puja can continue in its current form.
Has LIC tried to recover this land before?
Yes. LIC officials stated that multiple prior attempts to reclaim the land — including approaching the courts — had failed, and possession was never restored. The fresh police complaint follows Swarup Biswas's arrest, which has altered the political equation.
What government goods were found at the Suruchi Sangha Club?
Searches of the club premises reportedly uncovered a large number of bottles of government drinking water branded 'Pranadhara' and a quantity of saris meant for relief distribution, allegedly stockpiled through irregular channels. Locals have alleged fraud following the discovery.
