TMC MLA Dilip Mondal gets 10-day police custody after Puri arrest
Synopsis
A sitting TMC legislator who allegedly fled his home after a police raid was tracked down to a hotel in Puri by West Bengal's Special Task Force — and is now facing 10 days of police custody over charges including voter intimidation, extortion, and terror-mongering. The arrest signals mounting post-election accountability pressure on political figures in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
Dilip Mondal , TMC MLA from Bishnupur (SC) , South 24 Parganas, was remanded to 10-day police custody by a Kolkata court on 29 May 2025 .
He was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police from a hotel in Puri, Odisha .
Cases against him invoke 11 non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 , covering corruption, extortion, and voter intimidation.
A raid on his Pailan residence on 14 May found him absent; he had allegedly been in hiding since.
Public prosecutor Sourin Ghoshal argued Mondal evaded arrest due to his ties with the previous ruling dispensation in West Bengal.
All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Dilip Mondal, representing the Bishnupur (SC) Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, was on Thursday, 29 May 2025 remanded to 10 days of police custody by a lower court in Kolkata. Mondal had been arrested a day earlier by the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police from a hotel in Puri, Odisha, where he had allegedly been hiding for weeks.
Arrest and Transit to Kolkata
STF personnel, accompanied by Diamond Harbour Police, tracked Mondal to a hotel in Puri after receiving a tip-off about his whereabouts. Officers confirmed his presence by checking the hotel register before detaining and subsequently arresting him. He was then brought to Kolkata on transit remand and produced before a lower court in the city on Thursday.
What the Court Heard
Public prosecutor Sourin Ghoshal argued before the court that Mondal had allegedly been absconding for a prolonged period following the registration of multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) against him. The charges, invoked under 11 non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, include allegations of corruption, extortion, and creating an atmosphere of terror in his locality. Ghoshal further contended that Mondal had been able to evade arrest due to his association with the then-ruling dispensation in West Bengal.
Background: Voter Intimidation Allegations
The cases against Mondal are particularly linked to alleged voter intimidation during the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. A video purportedly showing Mondal threatening workers and supporters of a rival political party circulated on social media, though its authenticity could not be independently verified. A complaint was subsequently lodged at a local police station, leading to the registration of a case under non-bailable sections.
The Raid and the Disappearance
As part of the investigation, police conducted a raid on 14 May at Mondal's residence in Pailan, South 24 Parganas. He was not present at the time. According to local sources, Mondal had reportedly fled after receiving advance information about the raid. Search operations were launched at multiple locations, but his whereabouts remained unknown until the STF received the Puri tip-off.
What Happens Next
With a 10-day police custody remand now in place, investigators are expected to question Mondal on the full range of allegations, including the extortion and intimidation charges. The case is being closely watched as part of a broader pattern of post-election accountability proceedings in West Bengal. Further legal proceedings, including potential bail applications, are likely to follow once the custody period concludes.
Point of View
It points to a systemic accountability gap that outlasted the election cycle. The invocation of 11 non-bailable BNS sections suggests investigators are building a substantive case, not a tactical one. Whether the courts sustain that case — or whether political winds shift before a chargesheet is filed — will be the real test of institutional independence here.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was TMC MLA Dilip Mondal arrested?
Dilip Mondal was arrested on charges including alleged voter intimidation during the West Bengal Assembly elections, as well as corruption and extortion. Multiple FIRs were registered against him under 11 non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Where was Dilip Mondal arrested?
Mondal was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police from a hotel in Puri, Odisha, where he had allegedly been hiding. STF personnel confirmed his presence through the hotel register before detaining him.
How long is Dilip Mondal's police custody?
A Kolkata lower court remanded Dilip Mondal to 10 days of police custody on 29 May 2025, during which investigators are expected to question him on the full range of charges against him.
What is the voter intimidation allegation against Mondal?
A video purportedly showing Mondal threatening supporters of a rival political party circulated on social media, though its authenticity was not independently verified. A complaint was filed at a local police station, leading to a case under non-bailable sections.
When did police first attempt to arrest Mondal?
Police conducted a raid on Mondal's residence in Pailan, South 24 Parganas, on 14 May 2025, but he was not present. According to local sources, he had reportedly fled after learning about the impending raid.
