Kolkata BDO Detained in Drink-and-Drive Incident
Prashanta Burman, the Block Development Officer (BDO) accused of kidnapping and murdering a 45-year-old gold trader in Salt Lake last year, was detained by Bidhannagar police in a drink-and-drive case on Monday night. Burman, who had been absconding since January after the Supreme Court denied him protection in the murder case, was caught after a viral video showed him driving under the influence of alcohol near the Shrachi signal in New Town around 10:30 pm.
Incident Details
According to eyewitnesses, Burman allegedly hit a pedestrian while driving in an intoxicated state, leaving a biker injured and bleeding. On-duty police personnel rescued the injured biker and sent him to a hospital. When bystanders protested, the BDO became aggressive. In the viral clip, Burman can be heard calling protesters “corrupt” and threatening to slap them. At one point, he got out of his car with unsteady steps and told police, “arrest me.”
Police Action
Following the incident, police from the Eco Park Police Station under the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate detained the accused BDO. The case adds to Burman’s legal troubles, as he is already the prime suspect in the murder of gold trader Sanjay Saha, whose body was found in a canal in North 24 Parganas district in July 2023.
Background
Burman was arrested in August 2023 but later released on bail. He had been evading arrest since January 2025 after the Supreme Court refused to extend his protection. The drink-and-drive incident has sparked public outrage, with many demanding strict action against the officer.
