A Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former member of the Hooghly Zilla Parishad, Tumpa Mete, was arrested by police on Saturday, 26 September 2026, just hours before former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was scheduled to address a high-profile public meeting at the Serampore Court grounds in Hooghly district. The arrest, carried out by officers of the Dankuni Police Station, has added a charged political dimension to what was already a closely watched event.

The Charges Against Tumpa Mete

According to a district police officer, Mete was arrested on charges of cheating in connection with alleged job fraud. 'She is a former member of the Hooghly Zilla Parishad of the Trinamool Congress. Her name was also allegedly on the list of ineligible job seekers in the cash for school-job case in West Bengal,' the officer said. Reportedly, the specific allegation is that Mete obtained a school job by submitting a white paper, and her name appeared on the 2016 SSC panel that the Supreme Court subsequently cancelled on corruption charges. She currently works at a state-run school as a non-teaching staff member.

Mete Claims Political Vendetta

Mete, speaking to media after her arrest, rejected all allegations as fabricated. 'My arrest just before our leader's public meeting was a result of political vengeance which is a common affair these days in any corner of the state. All the allegations that I have been framed with are baseless,' she said. She is scheduled to be produced before a district court in Serampore later on Saturday, with the Public Prosecutor expected to seek her police custody.

The Serampore Meeting: Court Permission After Police Refusal

The backdrop to the arrest is itself contentious. The Calcutta High Court had to intervene to grant permission for Banerjee's public meeting after local police initially denied clearance. The court authorised a gathering of up to 1,000 people between 4 pm and 6 pm at the Serampore Court grounds, where preparations — including a stage — had been underway for two days despite heavy rain.

Former TMC legislator and Hooghly district TMC convener Asit Majumdar confirmed the meeting would begin exactly at 4 pm. 'We had to prepare for the meeting under very adverse conditions. The police did not give any permission first. We are doing things as per the Calcutta High Court's orders. We have faith in the judiciary. The Calcutta High Court has given us permission to gather with 1,000 people. Similarly, we will hold a meeting with 1,000 party workers. Now if people come to see our leader, that is a different matter,' Majumdar said.

Broader Context: The School Jobs Scam

This arrest is the latest in a series of actions linked to the West Bengal school recruitment scam, in which the Supreme Court cancelled the 2016 SSC panel over systemic corruption. The case has ensnared numerous individuals with alleged political connections, making each fresh arrest politically sensitive — particularly when timed close to a TMC event. Critics argue such arrests are targeted; authorities maintain they are part of an ongoing, court-monitored process. The timing of Saturday's arrest, hours before Banerjee's first major district meeting in Hooghly, is certain to fuel that debate further.