Jalpaiguri, June 8 -- Former Maynaguri-I Block Trinamool Congress president and Khagrabari-II Gram Panchayat Pradhan Bablu Roy was arrested by police on Sunday evening on charges including extortion, intimidation, and land grabbing. He was taken into custody from his residence and produced before the Jalpaiguri court on Monday, according to sources at Maynaguri Police Station.
Roy, who had served as Pradhan for several years, allegedly became the subject of growing public resentment over complaints of extortion, intimidation, and illegal land occupation. Local residents claimed that his influence in the area had expanded significantly over time, leading to allegations of misuse of power. Ahead of the Assembly elections, Roy was appointed president of the Maynaguri-I Block Trinamool Congress in August. However, after the election results were declared, he reportedly withdrew from public activities and stopped attending the Gram Panchayat office regularly.
During this period, BJP workers visited the Khagrabari-II Gram Panchayat office twice to submit deputations, but Roy was absent on both occasions. Police sources said multiple complaints were later lodged against him at Maynaguri Police Station, prompting an investigation that culminated in his arrest. Roy denied all allegations following his arrest, claiming that the case was politically motivated and that he had been falsely implicated.
Reacting to the development, BJP Jalpaiguri district vice-president Chanchal Sarkar alleged that corruption and misuse of power by ruling party leaders were now being exposed through such cases.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.