Arghya Mandal, son of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Bishnupur MLA Dilip Mandal, was arrested along with four others from the Bakkhali-Fraserganj area near the Bay of Bengal on Monday, 18 May, according to senior officials of the Diamond Harbour district police. Arghya was reportedly found in possession of firearms and is accused of creating unrest in the area. The arrests come even as his father, MLA Dilip Mandal, remains at large following allegations that he made threatening remarks against opposition workers in a widely circulated video.

The Joint Operation

On Sunday night, a joint operation involving the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police and the Diamond Harbour District Police was launched to locate Arghya Mandal. The operation culminated in the arrest of five individuals, including Arghya, from the Bakkhali-Fraserganj coastal area. Police officials confirmed that all five are currently under interrogation, and investigators are examining whether additional persons were involved in the alleged unrest.

The Viral Video and Case Against the MLA

The sequence of events began after a purported video of Dilip Mandal surfaced on social media, in which he allegedly made threatening comments directed at workers and supporters of a rival political party. A formal complaint was subsequently filed against the Bishnupur MLA at the local police station. Acting on the complaint, police — accompanied by central forces personnel — raided Dilip's residence on Thursday, but the MLA was not present. After an extended search operation, officials departed the premises by 4 pm.

The Lavish Properties and Questions of Wealth

Investigators discovered that Dilip Mandal owns two houses in the Pailan area of South 24 Parganas, both of which were raided. One property, built over a large plot, features a swimming pool, a resort-style courtyard with decorative statues, a large fountain, and a cave-like structure. The discovery of such an opulent residence belonging to an elected public representative has prompted questions about the source of his wealth, with critics asking how a sitting MLA amassed such assets.

What Happens Next

Police continue their search for Dilip Mandal, who has evaded arrest since the complaint was registered. The interrogation of his son Arghya and the four other detainees is ongoing, with investigators looking into the full extent of the alleged criminal network. The case has drawn attention to political intimidation concerns in South 24 Parganas, a district that has frequently witnessed inter-party tensions. The outcome of the investigation is likely to have political implications for the Trinamool Congress ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.