Kolkata, July 2 (IANS) Influential Trinamool Congress leader Iftikhar Ahmed, alias Pappu, has been arrested by the West Bengal’s East Burdwan district police in connection with multiple criminal cases, including alleged extortion at gunpoint and issuing death threats, police said on Thursday.

Police said Ahmed was arrested on Wednesday in the Viringi area of ​​Durgapur in neighbouring West Burdwan district. He is the husband of former Burdwan Municipality councillor Shefali Begum, who resigned from her post last month.

When Iftikhar Ahmed was produced before the Burdwan District Court on Thursday, the police sought 10 days’ custody for detailed investigation. However, the court ordered three days’ police custody.

According to the police, Iftikhar had been using his political connections and influence to extort money from people and businessmen at Burdwan station and Burdwan city in East Burdwan district for a long time.

He allegedly used illegal firearms to intimidate the opposition and created an atmosphere of fear in the area. Information from multiple cases filed against him between 2019 and 2026 has also been included in the investigation. Police claimed that he provided several important pieces of information during interrogation.

According to the police, a huge amount of money was collected from extortion by taking advantage of his closeness to former Trinamool MLA from Bardhaman Dakshin constituency Khokan Das. It was also learnt that the money was invested in different parts of the state.

Along with this, the police said that the arrested Trinamool leader had assured cooperation in the investigation to find the extortion network and illegal weapons.

The case originated from a written complaint filed on May 26 this year. The complainant, Shivshankar Chowdhury, claimed that his shop near the Burdwan railway station was attacked and vandalised after he refused to pay extortion money.

He was threatened with death at gunpoint, and when he tried to protest, his wife was also assaulted. Later, the accused allegedly entered their house and looted cash and gold ornaments.

–IANS

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