Kolkata, 15 April (H.S.) : In a significant development ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, police in Bidhannagar on Wednesday arrested former Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor Nirmal Dutta on charges of allegedly intimidating and influencing voters.

The action followed a complaint filed on Tuesday by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Saradwat Mukherjee with the Election Commission. He had also submitted a written complaint to the Bidhannagar Police Commissioner, prompting the police to initiate कार्रवाई and carry out the arrest.

The controversy stems from a statement allegedly made by Dutta during a gathering in Salt Lake on April 13. In a purported video clip, he was heard saying that they would be able to identify residents of the Duttabad area and track where they vote, claiming access to Aadhaar and voter ID details. The BJP termed the remarks an attempt to threaten voters and lodged a formal complaint.

Dutta’s wife is currently a TMC councillor from Ward No. 38 of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation. He has also faced previous allegations of assault involving BJP workers in the Duttabad area of Salt Lake.

Following his arrest, Dutta was produced before a Bidhannagar court on Wednesday, which remanded him to 10 days of judicial custody.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the Election Commission over the कार्रवाई. Addressing a rally in Islampur, she said that if one TMC leader is arrested, “a hundred others are ready to take their place.”

Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with Bidhannagar and Kolkata going to polls in the second phase. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh