BJP leaders welcome Mahesh Sharma’s arrest, call for accountability in public office

BJP leaders Meena Purohit and Santosh Pathak reacted sharply to the arrest of Ward No. 42 councillor Mahesh Kumar Sharma, who was taken into custody by Burrabazar Police and later remanded to six days of police custody. Sharma faces charges including criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and extortion in connection with a case registered earlier this year. The arrest comes amid a broader series of legal actions involving several local political leaders in Kolkata.

Commenting on the development, Meena Purohit said that the arrest was justified and referred to past political exchanges with Sharma. She stated, “What happened is good. A person’s sins eventually catch up with them. He had once told me that I should go to Nimtala, but now he himself has landed in jail.” Her remarks came shortly after the court ordered Sharma’s police custody.

Santosh Pathak also criticised the allegations surrounding Sharma and said public representatives should focus on serving citizens rather than engaging in unlawful activities. Referring to his own political career, Pathak said, “As you sow, so shall you reap. I have also been a councillor for 22 years—can anyone say that I ever demanded money from people? Public representatives should serve the people, not engage in illegal extortion.” His comments were made against the backdrop of multiple cases involving allegations of financial irregularities and extortion against local leaders.