Kolkata, Sept. 1 -- TMC leader and former Patashpur Assembly candidate, Pijus Panda, was arrested by Patashpur police on Monday night in connection with an old corruption case.
Panda claimed he had been "falsely accused" and alleged that his arrest came ahead of his planned indefinite hunger strike against alleged BJP atrocities on TMC workers.
According to the complaint filed by local contractor Subhasish Jana, Panda allegedly took Rs 2.10 lakh from him on the promise of helping him secure a job. The contractor alleged that despite taking the money, Panda did not arrange the work. After being produced before court, Panda was remanded to seven days' police custody.
The arrest came a day before Panda's announced indefinite hunger strike from September 1. He had recently alleged that TMC offices were being taken over and party workers were being targeted through old false cases under the BJP government.
In another development in Nandigram, TMC leader Bappaditya Garga was also arrested on the same day. Garga had allegedly been absconding since the 2026 Assembly election. The case was filed on the complaint of Sabita Bera and relates to alleged disruption during voting and physical assault during the 2024 election.
Panda, a long-time TMC leader, contested the 2026 Assembly election from Patashpur on a TMC ticket but lost.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.