Kolkata Interior Designer Files Police Complaint Over Alleged Extortion and Assault
In a disturbing incident from Kolkata, interior designer Sudipto Ghosh has lodged a formal complaint at the Baranagar Police Station, alleging he was violently dragged from his Baranagar residence and taken to a local club, where he was brutally thrashed. The assault, according to Ghosh, occurred after he refused to pay a protection money demand of Rs 1 lakh from an INTTUC member and his associates.
Details of the Alleged Extortion and Attack
Sudipto Ghosh, a resident of Bonhooghly, stated in his FIR that he had been receiving persistent phone calls demanding the hefty sum. The situation escalated on Friday night when a group of men arrived at his flat, threatening him and claiming they were acting on orders from "dada," referring to INTTUC president of Baranagar zone, Shankar Routh. Ghosh alleges he was assaulted at his home before being forcibly taken to the club, where the beating continued. He further claimed that the extortion amount was later negotiated down to Rs 70,000 during the ordeal.
After managing to escape, Ghosh was rushed for medical treatment, first to Baranagar State General Hospital and subsequently to RG Kar Hospital. The incident has gained traction on social media, with CCTV footage purportedly showing the assault being widely circulated, though its authenticity remains unverified by independent sources.
Police Action and Political Fallout
In response to the complaint, Barrackpore Commissioner of Police Praveen Tripathi confirmed that two individuals seen in the CCTV footage, identified as Rahul Jadav and Ayush Kundu, have been arrested. Tripathi assured that all involved parties would be apprehended, emphasizing, "No one involved will be spared." The FIR names five persons, including Shankar Routh and a TMCP functionary, on charges of extortion and assault.
However, the incident has ignited a fierce political confrontation between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress. BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh has threatened to gherao the police station if swift action is not taken against the accused. In contrast, Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh downplayed the political angle, stating, "It's an untoward incident but the opposition is giving it a political colour." He suggested that the dispute might stem from a professional disagreement, alleging Ghosh did not complete work at a Barasat lawyer's house despite full payment.
Trinamool MLA Sayantika Banerjee from Baranagar also denied any political linkage to the event. Meanwhile, Shankar Routh has refuted the assault claims, admitting only that the businessman was called to the club for a discussion, but insisting no physical altercation took place.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about law and order in West Bengal, with the opposition BJP leveraging it to criticize the state government, while Trinamool leaders defend the administration's handling and dispute the narrative of systemic issues.
