A Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) councillor, Susanta Ghosh, who is named in an extortion case, was spotted at the Bengal-Odisha border on Friday. However, he and his family reportedly fled the scene before police could reach them, leaving behind his car. His driver was arrested from the Belda-Odisha border area.
Background of the Case
Ghosh, the Trinamool Congress councillor for Ward 108, has been untraceable since allegations surfaced that he and his associates extorted nearly Rs 3 crore from hawkers and traders in a market in the Anandapur area. More than 130 members of a hawkers' committee lodged a complaint at the Anandapur police station last week.
Details of the Alleged Extortion
The complainant claimed that between 2022 and 2023, Ghosh and at least seven of his aides collected money from traders under the pretext of allocating and building shops for them in a market near Ruby Hospital. Tin-shed, shuttered shops were indeed constructed, but traders were told that a select group would decide on the slotting. Hawkers alleged that rates were fixed based on the size and location of the shops, forcing traders to pay to secure allotments. They further alleged that several shops were sold for Rs 6 lakh each, generating nearly Rs 3 crore.
Police Response
Upon receiving information about Ghosh's presence at the border, police moved swiftly but were unable to apprehend him as he fled with his family. The driver, however, was taken into custody. Investigations are ongoing to trace Ghosh and his associates.
About the Author
Tamaghna Banerjee, a reporter from Kolkata, covers crime, aviation, human rights, and politics. He has a keen interest in human interest and rural reporting. He holds a postgraduation in journalism and mass communication and has a total of 14 years of experience in journalism.
