Bibhas Mukhopadhyay, also known as Manu, a Trinamool councillor from Ward number 4 of Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, was arrested by the police on charges of extortion. The arrest took place at a hotel in the Eastern Metropolitan bypass area adjacent to Garia. Following the arrest, Mukhopadhyay was taken to his residence and office.
Local residents reportedly protested around Mukhopadhyay after his arrest, accusing him of extortion and chanting ‘thief, thief.’ There were even instances of eggs being thrown at him, prompting the police to conduct search operations at various locations. Allegations of extortion during the previous Trinamool-led state government’s tenure have been leveled against Mukhopadhyay in several areas.
The arrest of Bibhas Mukhopadhyay comes in the wake of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government assuming power in the state. Notably, three councillors from Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality have been arrested, including Mukhopadhyay’s close aide Papai Ghosh. Efforts are underway to interrogate both Mukhopadhyay and Ghosh to gather further information.
Police and municipal officials have discovered a significant amount of government and relief materials in under-construction toilets and the Trinamool Congress’ office in Ward 23 of Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality. These materials, including street lights, tarpaulins, cement bags, buckets, and bleaching powder, were allegedly hoarded and not distributed to the public when needed.
