Kolkata, Oct. 30 -- Ajit Mahato, the MAITC leader of Jhargram was arrested late on Thursday night from his residence in connection with a multi-lakh cash-for-jobs scam.
Mahato, who contested the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections from the Gopiballavpur Constituency, is accused of defrauding job aspirants by promising employment in the state Forest department.
According to sources, the arrest followed a complaint lodged by Sajal Das, a resident of Bachurdoba area in Jhargram. He alleged that Mahato exploited his political stature and claimed high-level administrative clout to secure him a government job. Das reportedly paid Mahato Rs 10 lakh in four instalments between December 2024 and March 2026. The matter escalated when the promised job failed to materialise. When Das demanded a refund, Mahato allegedly threatened his life and demanded an additional extortion sum of Rs 2 lakh.
The arrest has triggered a massive political storm. Mahato, a prominent face in regional politics, is known to be closely aligned with the Mamata Banerjee faction amid ongoing internal shifts within the party.
Mahato's family denied the allegations, labelling the late-night police action a 'politically motivated vendetta'.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.