TMC MLA Pares Ram Das arrested at Kolkata airport; 11 phones, ₹2 lakh seized
Synopsis
A sitting TMC legislator was nabbed at Kolkata's international airport allegedly mid-escape to Mumbai after 17 days of absconding. The haul — 11 high-end phones and ₹2 lakh cash — adds intrigue to a case involving rape, cheating, and criminal conspiracy charges. The silence from Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee speaks volumes.
Key Takeaways
Pares Ram Das , TMC MLA from Canning (Paschim) , was arrested at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport , Kolkata, on 10 November 2026 .
Police seized 11 high-end mobile phones (including iPhones) and ₹2,00,000 in cash from his possession.
Das had been absconding for 17 days and had ignored repeated CID summons before his arrest.
He faces charges under IPC Sections 376 (rape), 323 , 420 , 120B , and 506 in Case No.
561/2026 at Canning Police Station.
He will be produced before a lower court on 11 November 2026 ; police custody is expected to be sought for interrogation.
Neither Mamata Banerjee nor Abhishek Banerjee has publicly reacted to the arrest.
Police arrested All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Pares Ram Das at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Monday evening, 10 November 2026, as he allegedly attempted to flee to Mumbai. Officers from the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Baruipur Police District in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, seized 11 high-end mobile phones and ₹2,00,000 in cash from his possession at the time of arrest.
What Was Recovered
According to a district police officer, the phones recovered included 'extremely high-priced iPhones' alongside 'high-end Android phones of other reputed brands.' The cash was found in a handbag Das was carrying. The sheer number of devices — 11 phones — has drawn attention and is likely to be a focus of further investigation.
The Charges Against Das
Das, who represents the Canning (Paschim) Assembly Constituency in South 24 Parganas, faces multiple charges. The most serious is a rape allegation stemming from an incident in 2023. A formal complaint was filed with the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Canning in September 2026, leading to the registration of Canning Police Station Case No. 561/2026 on 5 September 2026. The case was registered under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
17 Days on the Run
Das had reportedly been absconding for 17 days before his arrest and had failed to respond to multiple summons issued by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal state police. Acting on a tip-off that he planned to board a flight from Kolkata to Mumbai on Monday evening, SOG personnel positioned themselves inside the airport and detained him the moment he entered the premises. This is not an isolated incident — the arrest follows a broader pattern of elected representatives in West Bengal facing criminal proceedings amid heightened scrutiny of lawmakers in the state.
Political Fallout and Party Silence
Das is described as one of the few TMC legislators who continue to maintain loyalty to both former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. As of Monday evening, neither Mamata Banerjee nor Abhishek Banerjee had issued any public reaction to the arrest, according to reports. The silence from the party's top leadership is notable given the seriousness of the charges.
What Happens Next
Das is set to be produced before a lower court on Tuesday, 11 November 2026. The Public Prosecutor is expected to seek police custody for further interrogation. Investigators will likely examine the seized phones for digital evidence linked to the pending cases against him.
Point of View
Not just a crime story. The recovery of 11 phones from a single individual warrants scrutiny well beyond the rape case; digital forensics could unlock far more. The conspicuous silence from the TMC's top brass suggests the party is calculating its exposure rather than distancing itself on principle. West Bengal has seen a string of ruling-party lawmakers entangled in criminal proceedings, and the pattern raises a structural question about accountability mechanisms for sitting legislators that neither the state government nor the opposition has adequately answered.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was TMC MLA Pares Ram Das arrested?
Pares Ram Das was arrested at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on 10 November 2026 while allegedly attempting to flee to Mumbai. He faces charges including rape (Section 376), cheating, criminal conspiracy, and criminal intimidation under Canning Police Station Case No. 561/2026, registered on 5 September 2026.
What was seized from Pares Ram Das at the time of arrest?
Police recovered 11 high-end mobile phones — including expensive iPhones and other premium Android devices — along with ₹2,00,000 in cash from a handbag he was carrying. The phones are expected to be examined for digital evidence.
How long had Pares Ram Das been absconding before his arrest?
Das had been absconding for 17 days prior to his arrest and had not responded to multiple summons issued by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal state police. He was finally apprehended after a tip-off to the Special Operations Group.
What happens to Pares Ram Das next?
Das is scheduled to be produced before a lower court on Tuesday, 11 November 2026. The Public Prosecutor is expected to seek police custody for further interrogation, and investigators are likely to examine the 11 seized phones for evidence.
Has the TMC or Mamata Banerjee reacted to the arrest?
Neither Mamata Banerjee nor Abhishek Banerjee had issued any public statement on the arrest as of Monday evening, according to reports. Das is described as a legislator who has remained loyal to both leaders.
