Trinamool Congress leader arrested in Bankura for extortion

Bipattaran Garai, a former block president of the Trinamool Congress worker organization, has been arrested in the Bankura district of West Bengal. He faces allegations of extortion, assault, breach of trust, and fraud.

The charges stem from an incident in January 2021 involving Karunmay Pal, a resident of Jemua village in the Mejia block. Pal alleged that Garai used his influence to demand 20,000 rupees under the guise of securing a home through a government housing scheme. When Pal resisted, he was reportedly assaulted and evicted from his home. He was later allowed to return only after paying an additional 50,000 rupees as a fine.

Following a recent police complaint, Garai was arrested on Saturday night and presented before the Bankura District Court on Sunday. While the police continue their investigation, Garai has claimed that the allegations are false and politically motivated.