Trinamool Congress may take action against arrested councillor

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress is likely to take stern action against a party councillor who was today arrested on the charge of extorting money, a move aimed at conveying a strong message to the TMC rank and file, a senior district party leader said.

TMC councillor of ward no 41 of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, Anindya Chattopadhyay, was arrested by the police this morning on a complaint by a resident of the area that he had been "forced to pay" Rs 12,00,000 for construction work at his residence.

A senior TMC leader of North 24-Parganas district told PTI that several complaints of extortion by Chatterjee had been received in the past several months and he had been cautioned for that, but he didn't mend his ways.

"Our party supremo Mamata Banerjee time and again had cautioned a section of party leaders against involvement in syndicate business and extortion. Anindiya didn't mend his ways. Stern action will be taken against him to send out a strong message," he said.

According to TMC sources, police action was initiated against Chatterjee after a green signal had been received from the top level of the state administration.