TMC leader Ajit Mahata arrested for allegedly extorting ₹10 lakh on job promise
Synopsis
A Trinamool Congress leader who contested West Bengal's last Assembly election has been arrested in a late-night operation for allegedly extorting ₹10 lakh from a job aspirant — and then threatening him when he asked for his money back. The case adds to mounting scrutiny of job-for-cash rackets linked to political figures in the state.
Key Takeaways
Ajit Mahata , a Trinamool Congress leader from Jhargram district , was arrested on Thursday, 30 October 2026 .
Complainant Sajal Das alleged Mahata took ₹10 lakh in multiple instalments on the promise of a government job that never materialised.
Das further alleged he was threatened when he sought the job or a refund.
Police say Mahata had evaded arrest despite earlier complaints at Jhargram Police Station ; officers conducted a late-night operation to detain him.
He is to be produced before a local court on Friday , with police seeking 14 days of custody for further investigation.
Mahata had contested the Gopiballabhpur Assembly seat on a TMC ticket and lost to BJP candidate Rajesh Mahata by a large margin.
Trinamool Congress leader Ajit Mahata was arrested by Jhargram Police on Thursday, 30 October 2026, on charges of extorting ₹10 lakh from a job aspirant by falsely promising him employment in a government office, police said. The arrest follows a formal complaint lodged by local resident Sajal Das, who alleged that Mahata collected the money in multiple instalments over a period of time without ever delivering the promised post.
What the Complainant Alleged
According to police, Das alleged that despite paying nearly ₹10 lakh in instalments, he never received the government job he had been assured of. When he subsequently approached Mahata seeking either the position or a refund of his money, he claimed he was met with threats of dire consequences — an allegation that escalated the matter to a formal police complaint at Jhargram Police Station.
How the Arrest Unfolded
Police sources said Mahata had been evading arrest for a considerable period despite multiple earlier complaints filed against him at the same station. Acting on the fresh complaint, officers conducted a late-night operation and apprehended him from his residence on Thursday. He is set to be produced before a local court on Friday, with police reportedly seeking 14 days of custody for further questioning and investigation.
Who Is Ajit Mahata
Ajit Mahata had been regarded as an influential political figure in Jhargram district, West Bengal. He contested the most recent state Assembly election from the Gopiballabhpur constituency on a Trinamool Congress (TMC) ticket but lost by a large margin to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Rajesh Mahata.
Allegations of Administrative Inaction
It has also been alleged that despite multiple complaints against Ajit Mahata, the administration at the time had not acted on them — reportedly because of his standing as an influential figure within the ruling party apparatus in the area. Critics argue this reflects a broader pattern of delayed accountability for politically connected individuals in the state. The current arrest, prompted by the latest complaint, marks a departure from that earlier inaction.
Broader Context
The case comes amid ongoing scrutiny of job-for-cash schemes in West Bengal, following the high-profile school jobs scam that drew national attention in recent years. Allegations of political figures leveraging their influence to extort money from employment-seekers have persisted across multiple districts. The outcome of Mahata's remand hearing and any subsequent investigation into whether other individuals were similarly defrauded will be closely watched.
Point of View
Insulated for long stretches by administrative reluctance to act against ruling-party affiliates. The fact that police sources themselves acknowledge earlier complaints were not acted upon raises questions about institutional accountability that go beyond one accused individual. With the school jobs scam still reverberating in courts, this case adds to a narrative that the TMC government has struggled to shake — one of patronage networks extracting rent from desperate job-seekers. Whether the arrest signals a genuine enforcement reset or is a one-off response to an unavoidable public complaint remains to be seen.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was TMC leader Ajit Mahata arrested?
Ajit Mahata was arrested by Jhargram Police on 30 October 2026 on charges of allegedly extorting ₹10 lakh from a local resident named Sajal Das, who claimed Mahata had promised him a government job in exchange for the money but never delivered it. Das further alleged he was threatened when he sought either the job or a refund.
Who lodged the complaint against Ajit Mahata?
The complaint was lodged by Sajal Das, a local resident of Jhargram district, at Jhargram Police Station. Das alleged that Mahata collected the money in multiple instalments over time on a false promise of government employment.
Why was Mahata not arrested earlier despite prior complaints?
Police sources acknowledged that Mahata had been evading arrest for a considerable period despite multiple earlier complaints. It has been alleged that the administration did not act sooner because of Mahata's influence as a ruling-party figure in the area, though this remains an allegation under investigation.
What is Ajit Mahata's political background?
Ajit Mahata is a Trinamool Congress leader who was considered an influential figure in Jhargram district, West Bengal. He contested the Gopiballabhpur Assembly constituency in the most recent state election on a TMC ticket but lost by a large margin to BJP candidate Rajesh Mahata.
What happens next in the case?
Ajit Mahata is to be produced before a local court on Friday, 30 October 2026. Police have said they will seek 14 days of custody for further questioning and to investigate the full extent of the allegations against him.
