Court sends Councilor Mahesh Sharma to 6-day police custody in extortion case

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing a significant legal and political crisis in Kolkata as a fresh wave of arrests has targeted its local leadership. In the most recent development, Mahesh Kumar Sharma, the councilor for Ward No. 42, was arrested by the Burrabazar Police on Wednesday. Following his production in court, he was remanded to six days of police custody. Sharma faces a litany of charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and extortion, stemming from a case registered in early 2025.

The crackdown extends beyond Sharma, reflecting a broader pattern of allegations involving financial irregularities and intimidation. Sachin Singh, councilor of Ward No. 36, was also taken into custody following complaints that he allegedly extorted money from parking operators and demanded kickbacks from civic development projects. Similarly, Sudip Polley of Ward No. 123 was recently arrested for allegedly extorting several lakh rupees, facing public hostility and demonstrations during his court appearance.

Adding to the party's woes, senior TMC spokesperson and state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar was arrested in a separate property dispute. He stands accused of unlawfully occupying a woman’s premises for over a decade and harassing the owner. These arrests come at a time when the party is already grappling with intense internal friction, fueled by a succession battle and the rising influence of MP Abhishek Banerjee.