Kolkata Police summons BJP MLA in MLA hostel extortion case

Kolkata Police summons BJP MLA after extortion attempt in Abhishek Banerjee's name, sparking investigation and political controversy.

The Kolkata Police on Saturday (December 28, 2024) summoned BJP MLA Nikhil Ranjan Dey after three men were arrested for extortion in the name of c general secretary Abhishek Banerjee at the MLA hostel in Kolkata.

The three persons arrested at the MLA hostel on Kolkata’s Kyd Street on Wednesday (December 25, 2024) night were identified as Junedul Haque Chowdhury, Taslim Sheikh and Subhadip Malik, all residents of Hooghly district. They were allegedly trying to extort ₹5 lakh from Ananda Dutta, a Trinamool leader and chairperson of the Kalna Municipal Corporation in Purba Bardhaman district.

The room they were apprehended from was allegedly booked in the name of Mr. Dey, the BJP’s Coochbehar Dakshin MLA. The BJP leader said he had not booked any room at the hostel.

“I want to know who booked the room in my name? The safety of the other MLAs is also involved here. So if the police station calls me, I will definitely go for the investigation. I have not even heard the names of those arrested. I do not know them. How did the booking happen in my name? Of course, someone is involved,” the MLA said.

BJP State president Suknata Majumdar said the MLA was willing to file an FIR over the “impersonation”. “Those arrested could have used anyone’s name, including that of Trinamool MLAs,” Mr. Majumdar added.

Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said that they have no political comments over the issue and the police will investigate the matter in accordance with law.

This is not the first time Mr. Banerjee’s name has cropped up in a case of illegally extortion. Recently, the party suspended two leaders of its teachers wing for demanding that the Trinamool general secretary be given a more prominent position in the party and government.