Another KMC senior in cop net

Kolkata: Swapan Samaddar, the KMC ward 56 municipal councilor and MMiC (environment and bustee) ,was arrested on Wednesday on charges of carrying out post-poll violence in 2022.On Wednesday morning, Narkeldanga cops detained him from his home in the Phoolbagan area before questioning him, and eventually putting him under arrest.According to police sources, on Tuesday night, a woman filed a written complaint against Samaddar at Narkeldanga Police Station, based on which, cops registered an FIR on Wednesday morning. The complainant claimed that because Trinamool was earlier in power, Samaddar wielded strong influence in the area, making it difficult to file any complaint against him. The complainant said that after she saw councillors getting arrested in several places, she gathered courage and finally approached the police station.The arrested Trinamool councillor has been charged under several serious, non-bailable sections, including attempted murder and outraging a woman’s modesty. With Samaddar’s arrest, the number of KMC councillors being arrested in the past month has reached nine. A 10th accused is on the run.On Tuesday, Sushmita Bhattacharya Chatterjee — the councillor of KMC ward 63 and borough VII chairperson — and her husband Salil Chatterjee, an insurance agent, were arrested on charges of extorting a senior citizen from Watgunge. “The incident dates to May 2, 2022 but the complaint was submitted by the victim on June 9 this year. Accordingly, action was taken,” said an officer. top official at LalbazarSamaddarwas also associated with the patients’ welfare committee of Beleghata ID Hospital. CBI had earlier named him in a post-poll violence case of 2021 and he was forced to move court.Samaddar was subjected to barricading with “chor, chor” slogans while being led to the police station.Samaddar had represented wards 30 and 58 in his earlier three terms, where he earned a reputation as a “giant killer” by defeating prominent figures, like former Left-era mayor Prasanta Chatterjee in the 2000 civic polls. He shifted to ward 56 due to delimitation.