Bengal: Trinamool Congress leader arrested in Bankura over cheating charges

Kolkata, Aug 30 (IANS) Another Trinamool Congress leader has been arrested in West Bengal’s Bankura district on charges of cheating, the police said on Sunday.

This time, Rajib Ghoshal has been caught cheating people of lakhs of rupees in the name of providing jobs. He was arrested from Kolkata late Saturday night.

Rajib is known in the political circles of the district as a close associate of Trinamool Congress general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee. He was produced in the Bankura district court on Sunday. On the way to the court, BJP leaders and activists shouted slogans of ‘Chor-Chor’ (thief-thief).

A few months ago, Rajib was known as an influential leader in Bankura district’s Beliatore. When Trinamool formed a youth organisation, Rajib was its district president in Bankura. According to that source, he was acquainted with and close to Abhishek, the main leader of the student organisation of the then ruling party in the state.

On the other hand, a few days after the results of this year’s Assembly elections were announced, a complaint was filed at the Beliatore police station. It alleged financial fraud against a local Trinamool leader named Pallab Pandey in the name of providing a job.

According to the complainant, the Trinamool leader took Rs 4.20 lakh in the name of providing a job at a large block health centre. The complainant did not get the job. When he asked for the money back, it was also not given. The police have already arrested Pallab.

According to police sources, Rajib’s name was found after questioning him.

A team of Bankura district police arrested Rajib from Kolkata. Earlier, the BJP staged a protest in front of the Beliatore police station.

Regarding the arrest of the Trinamool leader, BJP leader Ramprasad Lai said, “Rajib Ghoshal has taken lakhs of rupees from many people in the area in the name of providing government jobs. That job thief has been arrested today. We had planned to give him ‘egg therapy’. But on the request of the police officers, we did not throw eggs. We just protested around him.”

Regarding the arrest of the Trinamool leader, Bankura Superintendent of Police VG Satish said, “There was a complaint of taking money in the name of providing jobs. While investigating that complaint, we found the name of Rajib Ghoshal. That is why he has been arrested. The investigation of the case is underway.”

–IANS

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