Abhijit Ray
KOLKATA—Trinamool Congress leader Sabyasachi Dutta was detained by Bidhannagar North Police in the early hours of Tuesday at his Raigachi residence in North 24 Parganas.
Authorities said the former chairman of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation was arrested after a businessman filed a complaint accusing Dutta of demanding 10 million rupees and issuing threats when he refused to pay.
An FIR for extortion and criminal intimidation was registered before the arrest.
Dutta, who once led Bidhannagar’s civic body and later lost the Barasat assembly contest in 2024,denied the charges while being escorted for medical examination.
“If they can prove I took even one rupee,I am ready for the gallows,” he told reporters.His arrival at court was met with protesters hurling eggs and tomatoes.
The arrest comes weeks after the Enforcement Directorate took into custody ex-Bidhannagar MLA Sujit Bose in connection with an alleged municipal recruitment scam.
Dutta’s own political path has shifted:he left TMC for BJP in 2019,then returned to Mamata Banerjee’s party two years later.Police said investigations are ongoing.
