Former state minister Aroop Biswas and his brother Swarup Biswas were recently arrested on charges of extortion and molestation. They have been accused of forcibly occupying 21 kathas of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) land to conduct their community Durga Puja for Suruchi Sangha.
Officials from the insurance company lodged a complaint at Alipore police station to reclaim their land. The incident has cast doubt on the future of Suruchi Sangha’s puja, a well-known Durga Puja celebration in Kolkata.
Durga Puja, organized annually by the Suruchi Sangha Club, takes place on the disputed land linked to Aroop Biswas and Swarup Biswas. Swarup has been arrested on various charges, including harassment and extortion. The situation escalated as an enraged crowd vandalized the Suruchi Sangha Club following his arrest.
LIC officials claim that the Biswas brothers have unlawfully occupied their 21 katha land for an extended period. Allegations include the illegal construction of a club on the land, where the Suruchi Sangha’s Durga Puja is held. Efforts by LIC to recover the land, including legal action, have so far been unsuccessful.
The insurance company has accused the Biswas brothers of unauthorized construction on the land, including a three-story house with multiple bedrooms. Such constructions are alleged to violate the law, and LIC officials have expressed concerns over the situation. There have also been claims of corruption within the Suruchi Sangha, with reports of government goods being stored at the club through questionable means.
