Trimool councillor in Bengal held on extortion charge

Kolkata, July 12: A councillor of West Bengal’s ruling Trimool Congress in North 24 Pargas district was on Tuesday arrested and remanded to custody on charges of extortion, police said. Bidhangar Municipal Corporation member Anindya Chatterjee was arrested from Kolkata’s satellite township Bidhangar after a complaint that he demanded Rs 12 lakh as extortion money from an area resident, said Deputy Commissioner of Police Santosh Pandey. Chatterjee was booked under several sections of the Indian Pel Code, including 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt in order to commit extortion). He was produced before a court which rejected his bail plea and remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days. The arrest comes days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her displeasure over the law and order situation in the district and asked police to curb illegal syndicate business. (IANS)