Ashok Dinda summoned after alleging police collect money from fishermen

Police have issued a legal notice to Ashok Dinda, BJP MLA from the Moyna Assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur and former Indian cricketer, over his public remarks alleging that police personnel were collecting money from fishermen. The district police have summoned him to appear before the police station in connection with the statements.

Dinda had claimed from a public platform that there were recorded videos showing police officers collecting ₹100–200 from each vehicle transporting fish. He alleged that three police personnel stood at a particular spot every evening with two scooters to collect money. “I tell all the fishermen not to pay money. I will see what I can do—just let them stop your vehicle in front of me,” he had said.

In a more serious allegation, Dinda claimed that the collected money was shared within the police hierarchy. “Of the money you give, 50 percent remains at the police station and 50 percent goes to the SP. Out of that, 15–20 percent stays with the SP and the rest goes to Kalighat, to that Harish Mukherjee, to that tin-roofed school,” he alleged during his speech.

Following these remarks, the district police served him a legal notice and asked him to appear on January 16. However, Dinda did not turn up on the scheduled date. Further legal steps may follow depending on the course of the inquiry.