Kolkata: TMC councillor Mahesh Sharma arrested on extortion charges
Synopsis
Three TMC councillors arrested in 48 hours, a sitting Mayor stepping down, and an administrative meeting at Nabanna under a new Chief Minister — Kolkata's civic establishment is being reshaped in real time. The arrest of Ward 42 councillor Mahesh Kumar Sharma on extortion charges signals that the cleanup inside KMC is widening, not winding down.
Key Takeaways
TMC councillor Mahesh Kumar Sharma (57) of KMC Ward 42 was arrested on 3 June 2026 by Kolkata Police.
He faces charges of extortion and cheating under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 .
The case was registered at Burrabazar Police Station (Case No.
05, dated 7 January 2025).
Two other TMC councillors — Sachin Singh and Arijit Das Thakur (Ward 106) — were arrested on similar charges within 48 hours.
Firhad Hakim resigned as Mayor of Kolkata on the same day after consulting Mamata Banerjee .
Kolkata Police on Wednesday night arrested Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor Mahesh Kumar Sharma of Ward 42 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on charges of corruption and extortion. The 57-year-old, a resident of 115 Cotton Street in the Posta area, was booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in a case registered at Burrabazar Police Station.
Details of the arrest
According to a statement issued by Kolkata Police, Sharma — son of Late Sagar Mall Sharma — was arrested on 3 June 2026 in connection with Burrabazar PS Case No. 05, dated 7 January 2025. The charges invoked include sections 61(2), 132, 308, 308(3), 62, 308(6), 352, 351, 127, 3(5) and 3(6) of the BNS, covering extortion and cheating.
Third TMC councillor held in 48 hours
The arrest is the latest in a string of similar actions against KMC councillors from the ruling party. On the same day, TMC councillor Sachin Singh was arrested on comparable charges after local residents accused him of extortion. A day earlier, on Tuesday night, Arijit Das Thakur, councillor of Ward 106, was taken into custody following a complaint that he had extorted money by threatening promoters and shopkeepers.
Firhad Hakim resigns as Mayor
The crackdown coincides with a major political shift in Kolkata's civic administration. Former West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim on Wednesday resigned as the Mayor of Kolkata. According to TMC sources, he stepped down after seeking the consent of party supremo and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Earlier in the day, several TMC MLAs — including Kolkata Port MLA Hakim — visited the state secretariat Nabanna for an administrative meeting convened by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Hakim reportedly tendered his resignation from the mayoral post on his return.
What happens next
With three sitting TMC councillors arrested within days on extortion-related charges, pressure is mounting on the party's civic leadership in Kolkata. Further questioning of Sharma is expected as investigators examine the complaints filed at Burrabazar Police Station.
Point of View
And the speed of these arrests suggests either a coordinated law-enforcement push or an internal political reckoning, or both. The fact that Firhad Hakim chose to step down after a Nabanna meeting under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari raises uncomfortable questions about how much operational space the TMC still has inside Kolkata's civic machinery. Mainstream coverage is treating these as isolated FIRs; the more honest read is that Bengal's post-transition politics has reached the wards.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mahesh Kumar Sharma and why was he arrested?
Mahesh Kumar Sharma is the 57-year-old TMC councillor of Ward 42 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. He was arrested by Kolkata Police on 3 June 2026 in connection with a Burrabazar Police Station case involving extortion and cheating under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
What charges has the councillor been booked under?
Sharma has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including sections 61(2), 132, 308, 308(3), 62, 308(6), 352, 351, 127, 3(5) and 3(6). The charges primarily relate to extortion and cheating.
Are other TMC councillors also under arrest?
Yes. Within 48 hours, two other TMC councillors — Sachin Singh and Arijit Das Thakur of Ward 106 — were also arrested on similar extortion-related complaints. Multiple KMC councillors from the party have faced comparable action in recent weeks.
Why did Firhad Hakim resign as Mayor of Kolkata?
Firhad Hakim resigned as Mayor of Kolkata on Wednesday after a meeting at Nabanna chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. According to TMC sources, he stepped down after seeking the consent of party supremo Mamata Banerjee.
Where was the case against Sharma registered?
The case against Mahesh Kumar Sharma was registered at Burrabazar Police Station under the North Division of Kolkata Police as Case No. 05, dated 7 January 2025.
