Trinamool Congress Municipal Chairman of Egra Municipality in East Midnapore, Swapan Kumar Nayak, was arrested in Kolkata on Friday evening by district police on serious corruption charges. The arrest stems from allegations of illegally leasing government-owned land under 'Khatian 1' without proper approvals, causing substantial revenue losses to the state exchequer. East Midnapore's acting Superintendent of Police, Mithun Kumar Dey, confirmed Nayak would be produced in court on Saturday for police custody remand.

The case originated from a formal complaint filed on December 20 by the Block Land Reforms Officer (BLRO) of Egra-I block, highlighting the unauthorized transfer via an unregistered document. Police investigations uncovered the extent of the financial irregularities, leading directly to Nayak's apprehension after thorough probes. Authorities are now expanding inquiries to identify additional accomplices in this alleged land scam.

This development intensifies political friction in East Midnapore, home district of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, amplifying the stir in state assembly circles. Just days prior, internal Trinamool discord erupted with six party councillors filing a no-confidence motion against Nayak, following party leadership's directive for his resignation—which he openly defied. The escalating feud underscores deepening rifts within the ruling party's local apparatus.

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Tensions boiled over on the morning of the scheduled no-confidence vote on December 20, when councillors protested Nayak's early 4:30 a.m. entry into the municipality building. They accused him of tampering with crucial files and lodged a complaint at Egra police station, resulting in the vote's postponement. This sequence of events highlights administrative chaos and allegations of misconduct preceding the corruption arrest.

Acting SP Dey emphasized the gravity of the charges, stating the illegal leasing directly eroded government revenue, prompting decisive police action. With Nayak's court appearance imminent, investigations continue to unravel the full network involved. The arrest not only disrupts Egra's municipal governance but also fuels broader debates on accountability within Trinamool Congress ranks.

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