TMC panchayat leader Shahidul Sheikh arrested in Chennai for Bengal businessman attack
Synopsis
A Trinamool Congress panchayat official who allegedly orchestrated an assault on a businessman and destroyed his livelihood fled across the country — only to be traced by mobile tower data to Chennai and arrested in a cross-state police operation. The case also carries prior charges of panchayat fund embezzlement, Awas Yojana extortion, and bombing.
Key Takeaways
Shahidul Sheikh , deputy head of Bishpur Panchayat in Hingalganj and a TMC leader, was arrested in Chennai on Saturday night, 13 September 2025 .
Sheikh allegedly led an attack on businessman Nitai Das on 18 May , burning down his shop and causing losses of several lakh rupees .
Police used mobile phone tower tracking to locate him; the arrest was a joint operation with the Special Operation Group (SOG) .
He faces prior cases including panchayat fund embezzlement , Awas Yojana extortion , bombing , and criminal intimidation .
Sheikh is to be produced before the Basirhat Sub-division Court on Monday after transit remand proceedings in Chennai.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and deputy head of Bishpur Panchayat, Shahidul Sheikh, was arrested in Chennai on Saturday night, 13 September 2025, after months of evading law enforcement in connection with the assault on a local businessman and the torching of his shop in Hingalganj, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. Officers from Hasnabad police station conducted the arrest in a joint operation with the Special Operation Group (SOG).
What Triggered the Arrest
According to police, on 18 May, Sheikh and his associates allegedly attacked Nitai Das, a businessman from Bailani Bazar in Hingalganj, and burned down his shop the same night. Das reportedly suffered losses of several lakh rupees in the arson. Following an investigation, the Hasnabad police station registered a case and launched a search for Sheikh, who had gone into hiding immediately after the incident.
How Police Tracked Him Down
Investigators reportedly tracked Sheikh's mobile phone tower location, which eventually led them to Chennai. A team from Hasnabad police station then travelled to Tamil Nadu and, in coordination with the SOG, detained him on Saturday night. A senior officer of the Basirhat Police District confirmed the arrest, stating: 'The phone's tower location was tracked. Finally, the police came to know that he was hiding in Chennai. After that, a team from Hasnabad police station left for Chennai to arrest him.'
Transit Remand and Next Steps
Sheikh was produced before a court in Chennai on Sunday to seek a transit remand, after which he is to be transported to Hasnabad police station. Authorities plan to produce him before the Basirhat Sub-division Court on Monday, where police are expected to seek his custody. The officer added that a search is ongoing for others allegedly involved in the incident.
A Longer Rap Sheet
This is not Sheikh's first brush with the law. According to police, prior cases had already been registered against him at the same police station on multiple charges, including embezzlement of panchayat funds, extortion linked to housing allotments under the Awas Yojana, bombing, and criminal intimidation. The latest episode of alleged violence against a businessman compounds what authorities describe as a pattern of criminal conduct.
Broader Context
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of law and order in West Bengal, where allegations of politically connected figures exploiting local power structures have drawn repeated criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups. This incident, involving a sitting panchayat office-bearer, is likely to fuel fresh demands for accountability within local governance bodies. Investigators say the probe into Sheikh's role — and that of his alleged associates — is continuing.
Point of View
Bombing, and fund misappropriation raises a sharp question: how did a figure with multiple prior FIRs retain a public position long enough to flee across the country? That the accused was caught only through phone-tower triangulation — and not through routine administrative checks — underscores how thinly enforced accountability is at the grassroots level in West Bengal. With the Awas Yojana extortion charge in the mix, this case also touches on the vulnerability of welfare delivery to local strongmen. The transit remand and custody hearings this week will test whether the legal process moves as swiftly as the police operation did.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shahidul Sheikh and why was he arrested?
Shahidul Sheikh is a Trinamool Congress leader and deputy head of Bishpur Panchayat in Hingalganj, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. He was arrested in Chennai on Saturday night in connection with the alleged assault on businessman Nitai Das and the arson of Das's shop on 18 May, in which the victim reportedly suffered losses of several lakh rupees.
How did the police find Shahidul Sheikh in Chennai?
Investigators tracked Sheikh's mobile phone tower location, which eventually placed him in Chennai. A team from Hasnabad police station then travelled to Tamil Nadu and arrested him in a joint operation with the Special Operation Group (SOG).
What other charges does Shahidul Sheikh face?
Beyond the businessman attack case, Sheikh faces prior criminal cases at the Hasnabad police station on charges including embezzlement of panchayat funds, extortion linked to housing allotments under the Awas Yojana, bombing, and criminal intimidation.
What happens next after Sheikh's arrest?
Sheikh was produced before a court in Chennai on Sunday to obtain a transit remand. He is then to be transported to Hasnabad police station and produced before the Basirhat Sub-division Court on Monday, where police plan to seek his formal custody.
Are other accused being sought in connection with the attack?
Yes. According to police, a search is ongoing for other individuals allegedly involved in the attack on businessman Nitai Das. The investigation into the full extent of Sheikh's role and that of his associates is continuing.
