Former Bidhannagar mayor and Trinamool Congress leader Sabyasachi Dutta has been arrested on extortion charges following a complaint filed by a businessman in Kolkata. Police took Dutta into custody late Monday night after registering a First Information Report (FIR) based on allegations that he extorted lakhs of rupees from the complainant in 2018. The arrest adds to a series of legal and political challenges confronting the Trinamool Congress amid ongoing turmoil within the party.
According to police sources, the complaint was lodged on Monday evening, prompting authorities to initiate legal proceedings and subsequently arrest the former mayor. Investigators are examining documents and financial records linked to the allegations. Dutta, however, has denied all accusations leveled against him and is currently being questioned by investigators regarding the case.
Dutta is a prominent political figure from Bidhannagar, commonly known as Salt Lake, a major satellite township on the outskirts of Kolkata. He served as the mayor of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation until 2019 and has remained an influential leader in the region. His arrest makes him one of the most high-profile political figures from the area to face legal action in recent months.
Also Read: Trinmool's 'Pushpa' Jahangir Khan Arrested at India-Nepal Border by STF
The former mayor has had a politically eventful career marked by shifts in party allegiance. In 2019, he left the Trinamool Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a move that attracted significant attention in West Bengal politics. However, he returned to the Trinamool in 2021, stating that earlier misunderstandings had been resolved. He later contested the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election from Barasat but was defeated by the BJP candidate.
Investigative agencies have reportedly been examining financial transactions connected to the Bidhannagar municipal administration, and officials claim that material gathered during those inquiries contributed to the current case. Authorities have not disclosed the full details of the evidence collected, but they maintain that the investigation is ongoing and that further questioning of the former mayor will continue in the coming days.
The arrest comes at a sensitive time for the Trinamool Congress, which is facing mounting political pressure following its loss of power in West Bengal. Several party leaders have recently come under the scanner of law enforcement agencies, while reports of internal dissent and factional divisions continue to surface. Political observers believe these developments could have significant implications for the party's organizational stability and future political strategy in the state.
Also Read: Howrah Villagers Shave TMC Leader's Head, Garland Him With Shoes Over Extortion Claims