On Tuesday night, West Bengal police apprehended Amardeep Saha, a prominent figure in Malda and close associate of former Trinamool Congress minister Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury, on charges of extortion and land grabbing. Saha, a 43-year-old resident of Dakshin Baluchar in Malda Town, was produced before a Malda court on Wednesday, with police seeking 14 days of custody for further investigation. The accused has been implicated in various criminal activities, including occupying government land for personal gain, extorting money from local businessmen, and engaging in usurious lending practices that targeted vulnerable individuals, particularly women in slum areas. As a key figure during the previous Trinamool Congress government, Saha had amassed significant influence in the region. Following the BJP’s ascent to power in West Bengal after the April-May Assembly elections, multiple complaints were filed against Saha at the English Bazar police station. One such complaint, submitted by Mampi Bhowmik on August 5, alleged involvement in Saha’s high-interest lending business, prompting the police to register a case against him on August 6. After evading authorities for a period, Saha was finally apprehended on Tuesday night. Malda Superintendent of Police Anupam Singh confirmed the arrest, stating that it was based on specific allegations. English Bazar MLA and BJP leader Amlan Bhaduri attributed the arrest to multiple allegations of government land occupation, resident intimidation, and illegal lending practices, emphasizing the current government’s commitment to upholding law and order and ensuring good governance.
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📰 Source: Mangalorean News