Ruling party MLA taken into custody at Kolkata airport over serious criminal complaints

Canning Paschim legislator Paresh Ram Das was taken into custody by law enforcement officers on Monday at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Investigators stated that multiple criminal complaints have been filed against the political figure, which involve allegations of sexual assault and demanding money by force.

Police Action

The Special Operations Group belonging to the Baruipur district police unit started following the politician upon getting a tip-off that he was making his way toward the aviation facility. Officers coordinated with the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate to secure the apprehension. The legislator had previously won his electoral contest against his main opponent from the BJP in Canning Paschim by a margin exceeding forty thousand votes. He remains one of a small group of lawmakers who stayed loyal to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Political Fallout

AITC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh asserted that authorities ignored actions when the legislator aligned with a rival faction, but moved quickly to detain him after he renewed his loyalty to Ms. Banerjee. The lawmaker had previously shared a message on social media reading "Alvida Canning. We will meet again". Multiple party figures have faced detention since the BJP assumed power in May 2026, a group that counts five former ministers among them, including Bishnupur MLA Dilip Mondal. Other former ministers currently held in custody include Sujit Bose, Indranil Sen, Ujjwal Biswas, and Udayan Guha. Supporters loyal to Ms. Banerjee contend that politicians who shifted to a dissident group led by Ritabrata Banerjee avoid police action, whereas those maintaining ties to the former chief minister face arrests.

Context

Political transitions often bring shifts in how law enforcement agencies handle high-profile figures and past cases. Allegations involving elected officials typically draw intense public scrutiny regarding the timing and motivations behind legal actions.