Former Trinamool MLA Sanat Dey arrested on extortion, land-grab charges in Bengal

Kolkata, Aug 8 (IANS) Former Trinamool Congress legislator Sanat Dey, who represented the Naihati Assembly constituency in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, was arrested early on Saturday in connection with multiple cases, oifficials said.

He was arrested on charges ranging from extortion, illegal land grabbing, and involvement in post-poll violence following the 2021 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He will be presented at a district court, and the public prosecutor will seek his police custody.

A police official said, “Dey, the former Trinamool Congress MLA from Naihati assembly constituency, had been accused of extortion and illegal land-grabbing in the area for a long time. In addition, there were allegations of involvement in post-poll violence against him after the 2021 assembly elections and 2024 Lok Sabha polls.”

Dey entered the West Bengal Assembly in a 2024 by-election after former state minister Partha Bhowmik vacated the Naihati seat following his election to the Lok Sabha from Barrackpore. In that bypoll, Dey secured victory by more than 49,000 votes. However, he lost the Assembly election earlier this year to BJP candidate Sumitro Chatterjee by over 10,000 votes.

Dey faced public anger soon after the change of regime in the state this year. In June, eggs were thrown at him while he was going to the party office at Naihati.

Several local residents accused him of fostering an atmosphere of intimidation in the area and claimed that he had issued threats even before the Assembly election results were declared.

A search operation was conducted at Dey’s residence a few days ago, but he was not found there. His arrest on Saturday came after sustained efforts by law enforcement agencies.

Since the Trinamool Congress suffered a heavy defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections, several complaints have reportedly surfaced against leaders and activists associated with the previous ruling party. Several former public representatives and party functionaries have already been arrested on charges including extortion.

With Saturday’s arrest, Dey has become the latest former Trinamool leader to face criminal proceedings.

–IANS

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