Two Trinamool Congress leaders — a sitting Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) councillor and a former West Bengal legislator — were arrested on Saturday, 7 June on charges including extortion, corruption, and land grabbing, police confirmed. The arrests mark a fresh wave of accountability action against ruling-party functionaries in the state.

KMC Councillor Bappaditya Dasgupta Held

Officers from Patuli police station arrested Bappaditya Dasgupta, the sitting Trinamool councillor from ward number 101 of the KMC, on extortion charges. As he was brought to the station, an angry crowd gathered outside, chanting 'chor-chor' (thief) slogans.

Dasgupta's political journey has been chequered. Originally a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member, he switched to Trinamool Congress in 2010 with the backing of then-state minister Partha Chatterjee. He won a by-election in 2015 from ward number 110 and was re-elected in the 2021 municipal polls, after which he rose to become the Chief Whip of Trinamool councillors at the KMC.

BJP leaders allege that individuals close to Dasgupta vandalised the homes of several BJP members following the 2021 state Assembly elections. He also faces allegations of accepting bribes from local residents in exchange for permitting construction in the area. The BJP has claimed that multiple other Trinamool leaders were involved in similar post-poll violence.

Former MLA Sujoy Hazra Caught Fleeing

In a separate operation, Sujoy Hazra, former Trinamool MLA from the Medinipur Assembly constituency in West Midnapore district, was arrested from Kharagpur railway station on Saturday night while reportedly attempting to flee. He had been absconding since 4 May, when West Bengal Assembly election results were declared.

District Superintendent of Police Papiya Sultana confirmed the arrest, stating: 'The police were monitoring the movements of Sujoy Hazra. This Trinamool leader has been hiding for a long time. There are multiple allegations against him, including land grabbing and extortion. Based on those allegations, the accused was called to Salbani police station for investigation. He was arrested from Kharagpur railway station. The investigation is ongoing. Nothing more can be said now.'

Pattern of Post-Poll Allegations

Both arrests come against the backdrop of long-standing allegations of post-poll violence and local-level corruption in West Bengal. Notably, Hazra's month-long evasion and Dasgupta's alleged bribery and vandalism links point to a broader pattern of ruling-party functionaries leveraging political cover. This is not the first time KMC-level Trinamool leaders have faced criminal proceedings — several ward-level arrests have occurred in the past two years amid increased judicial and police scrutiny.

What Happens Next

Both accused are currently in police custody with investigations described as ongoing. Legal proceedings are expected to follow as police complete their inquiries. The arrests are likely to intensify political sparring between Trinamool and the BJP ahead of upcoming local body engagements in the state.