2nd KMC councillor arrested after extortion plaint

Kolkata: Sachin Singh, the KMC councillor of ward 36, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of extortion, fraud and allegedly collecting cut money in the Narkeldanga area, police sources said.Singh became the second KMC councillor to be arrested after Sudip Polley (ward 123). Multiple other councillors like Baiswanor Chattopadhyay (ward 91), Mala Roy (ward 88), Susanta Ghosh (ward 108), Shanti Ranjan Kundu (ward 32), Jui Biswas (ward 81) and Ashutosh Das (ward 35) remain under investigation because of FIRs being filed against them in different post-poll FIRs.Singh’s arrest came amid mounting public anger against the councillor. Residents gathered outside his residence, raising slogans and allegedly pelting stones at the property since morning. Locals accused Singh of abusing his political position to run extortion rackets, demand illegal commissions from development projects and intimidate residents.Police said multiple complaints were received against the councillor, leading to his arrest.The arrest follows months of controversy surrounding Singh, whose name figured in local protests after a devastating fire in Narkeldanga last year destroyed around 60 shanties and left one person dead. Residents publicly blamed the councillor over inaction and lodged complaints with Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim.