A Trinamul Congress councillor from Barasat has been accused of orchestrating the kidnapping of a Tripura-based businessman on three separate occasions, extorting a total of ₹9.25 crore in ransom.
On September 2, the councillor made a third attempt, demanding ₹2.25 crore, but this time, the businessman's family alerted the police, leading to the councillor's arrest along with seven accomplices, including a former police constable.
Milan Sardar, the councillor representing ward number 2 of Barasat Municipality, was apprehended by the CID on Thursday night for allegedly masterminding the abduction of businessman Debabrata Dey.
Sardar reportedly used his political influence to facilitate the crime, providing logistical support and receiving a significant portion of the ransom, CID sources revealed.
Sardar was produced in Barrackpore court, which ordered a 14-day CID custody. Following his arrest, the Trinamool Congress promptly expelled him from the party. Local MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar announced Sardar’s expulsion on Friday, distancing the party from the councillor's actions.
According to CID officials, on September 2, Dey was abducted at gunpoint from the parking lot of a relative's complex in Khardah and taken to a hideout in Madhyamgram.
His family soon received a ransom demand of ₹2.25 crore but instead of negotiating, they reported the crime to the police. The Barrackpore Commissionerate then referred the case to the CID.
The CID, tracing phone calls and clues, raided several locations and rescued Dey from an apartment on Jessore Road. Six suspects were arrested during the operation, and a seventh, the driver of the abduction vehicle, was later apprehended.
Among the arrested was Somnath Samaddar, a former police constable dismissed in 2013 for indiscipline. Under interrogation, the suspects named Sardar as the key figure behind the crime. After their confessions, Sardar fled but was eventually arrested upon returning to his home on Thursday night.
Sources in Barasat said Sardar has long been suspected of using his political clout for personal gain. Party insiders alleged he has amassed substantial property holdings, primarily in real estate, across Palpukuria, Nibedita Pally and New Town and in other areas using local political support.
CID sources said that September's abduction was not the first time Sardar's gang targeted Dey. The businessman was previously kidnapped in 2022 and again in December 2023. On both occasions, the councillor extorted significant sums, amounting to ₹9.25 crore, from Dey's family.
A senior CID officer said: "Sardar has a history of forcibly extracting money from this businessman. We will investigate further to uncover the full extent of his criminal activities."
Investigators suspect that Sardar used the ransom money to purchase property and luxury vehicles.
The Opposition has been quick to seize on the case. BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari claimed that Sardar could not have operated without the backing of senior party leaders.
“Sardar is a criminal councillor protected by leaders like Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. This is only the beginning of uncovering the widespread corruption within the ruling party,” Adhikari said, comparing Sardar to Sheikh Shahjahan, the Trinamool leader who was arrested in connection with the Sandeshkhali incident.
Dastidar, however, refuted the charges and said: “Once we learnt about his crimes, we expelled him.”
