Kolkata, 23 August (H.S.): The case involving Trinamool Congress MP from the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency Kirti Jha Azad has taken a new turn after an FIR was registered against him at Raniganj Police Station over serious allegations. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took over the investigation on Saturday night and has begun examining the case.

The complaint was lodged by Rahul Ghosh, a resident of the Hal Basti area of Raniganj. According to sources, besides MP Kirti Jha Azad, his personal security officer Manohar Singh, contractor and alleged intermediary Biswajit Chatterjee, MP's representative Swaraj Ghosh, and personal assistant Purushottam have been named as accused in the complaint.

Police said the FIR has been registered as Raniganj Police Station Case No. 352/2026 under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as well as provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. One of the sections invoked in the case is reportedly non-bailable.

According to Rahul Ghosh's complaint, in 2025 he allegedly received a call from Manohar Singh and subsequently met the MP at his bungalow in Durgapur. The complainant alleged that he was pressured to stop activities related to an HP Gas sub-dealership and was allegedly asked to pay ₹15 lakh.

The complaint further alleges that instructions were given to collect money from local traders allegedly through unlawful means.

Ghosh has also alleged that he was threatened with serious consequences, including threats to his life, if he failed to follow the alleged instructions of the MP's associates.

However, all the allegations are based on the complainant's claims and have not been independently verified so far.

The FIR was registered at Raniganj Police Station on Friday night, following which the CID took over the case on Saturday night. The CID team is now expected to examine the allegations made in the complaint, the sections incorporated in the FIR and the alleged roles of the individuals named in the case.

The registration of an FIR against a sitting Lok Sabha MP at Raniganj Police Station has also become a major topic of discussion in the area.

Attempts were made to contact MP Kirti Jha Azad for his response to the allegations, but he could not be reached.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey