Former Trinamool Congress councillor Shams Iqbal, associated with Kolkata Municipal Corporation, was arrested by Garden Reach Police Station officers in Kolkata on charges of extorting Rs 70 lakh from a businessman. However, he was quickly granted bail after the complainant withdrew the case, citing a settlement between the parties.
Shams Iqbal, a close associate of former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, was released on a personal bond of Rs 1,000. The case against him, which included charges under the Arms Act, was settled within hours of his arrest due to his alleged influence in the matter. Iqbal was a councillor of ward number 134 of KMC and is known for his luxurious lifestyle, as seen on his social media with celebrities and during foreign trips.
Allegedly, Shams Iqbal and his associates had been extorting money from the complainant since June 2023, threatening him to pay for smooth business operations in the area. The complainant, Mohammad Shadab, claimed to have paid Rs 70 lakh to avoid harm to his family. The police registered a case against Iqbal and his associates, including Mohammad Faraz and Feroz Qureshi, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for extortion and intimidation.
After the Trinamool Congress’s defeat in the state Assembly elections, several Trinamool councillors have faced arrests, mostly on charges of extortion and intimidation. The incident reflects a trend where individuals previously hesitant to report misconduct are now coming forward to file complaints against those in power.
