Kolkata: In a continued crackdown targeting institutional corruption and exploitation within the Bengali film and television industry, the New Alipore police have summoned four key members of the Cine Technicians Federation. The move follows the high-profile arrest of Swarup Biswas, the president of the now-disbanded Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India, from his Sahapur Colony residence on Thursday night.
Police said that during Biswas's interrogation, the names of these four individuals surfaced as critical links to the unfolding scandal. Officers intend to record their statements to decode the syndicate's operational modus operandi and examine the roles of other close associates who allegedly facilitated the extortion of nearly Rs 22 lakh from vulnerable industry workers. Cops said those willing to complain about Biswas or share his modus operandi can contact them directly.
The investigation — and the eventual arrest of Biswas — was triggered by a complaint from a 42-year-old make-up artiste from Regent Park. She alleged that after being denied work for two years, she met Biswas at the Suruchi Sangha club in New Alipore in August 2025, where money was demanded from her under the pretense of securing employment. When she approached him again on April 4, 2026, Biswas and his aides allegedly demanded that she sexually compromise. Following her refusal, armed goons allegedly attacked her at her residence on April 10 in a targeted murder attempt.
The arrest comes a day after the federation was disbanded and all 26 affiliated guilds were dissolved. Since the crackdown, several industry figures have broken their silence, detailing how the guild systematically blacklisted, ostracized, and denied work to anyone who dared to protest against Biswas's leadership.
