Police interrogates BMC Councillor

The Bidhannagar police have received several complaints against that Councillor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, alleging that he has been running an extortion racket and have been threatening the developers on several occasions. He has been called up by the police for interrogation on Saturday.

The Councillor, along with some of his aides came to the office of Bidhannagar Commissionerate to face the interrogation by the investigating officers who are handling the cases of extortion rackets.

It is to be mentioned, Anindya Chatterjee, a Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation Councillor was also arrested on the charge of extortion after the complaint lodged by a Salt Lake resident.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, has strictly instructed the police to take stringent steps against the extortion rackets in Rajarhat, New Town and Bidhannagar. Since then, the Bidhannagar 

police have arrested 15 extortionists; some of who were arrested with firearms. “We will grill him about the various allegations lodged against him,” the police officer said.

Earlier, police have arrested Raju Kundu and Sanjib Sarkar, from Rajarhat and they were charged with non-bailable sections. They allegedly had demanded Rs 50 lakh or a flat from a local developer, who was building an apartment at Sourav Ganguly Avenue, Rajarhat.

The developer had lodged a complaint with Airport police station against the club members who were under the patronage of the local syndicate members. 

The involvement of Jagadish Sporting Club, a local club, was exposed to the police and the secretary of that club was also arrested. The investigators have learnt that the Councillor who was called up for interrogation was the president of that club. 

Police have also arrested three other extortionists from Baguiati area, identified as Abhijit Das, Prasanta Samanta, and Anup Singha Roy on the charges of collecting money from several auto stands. Three firearms have also been recovered from the accused. Ali Hasan Naskas (35), a syndicate member of New Town, allegedly gave shelter to the local extortionist, was booked by the Bidhannagar police and is remanded in judicial custody.