A man, who allegedly dropped Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s name and promised to get a licence for import-export to a businessman from North Dinajpur, was arrested late Thursday night from New Town.

Kaushik Sarkar was arrested on charges of fraud, cheating and criminal conspiracy after the businessman from Hilli in North Dinajpur filed a complaint at Shakespeare Sarani police station.

“The businessman alleged that Sarkar collected around ₹27 lakh from him in several instalments for a licence for import and export trade,” said a senior officer of Shakespeare Sarani police station.

“The complainant also said Sarkar accompanied him to a place outside Banerjee’s office building on Camac Street. Sarkar told Banerjee was not at his office and left with him.”

The businessman said in the police complaint that Sarkar met him in 2021 and told him he could arrange for licences and permits for commercial vehicles from the transport department using his contact.

Sarkar also allegedly told the businessman he had
contacts in several Union
ministries.

“There are also allegations that Sarkar used fake printed letterheads of Abhishek Banerjee with his false signature to collect money from a few others. We will question him further to gather evidence of his alleged fraudulent activities,” the officer said.

Preliminary investigations revealed Sarkar lives in New Town’s Chinar Park area.

The police said a section of local residents told
them there were allegations against him of land-grabbing and flaunting his alleged connections.

Senior Trinamool leaders said Sarkar held no official position in the party.