Kolkata, June 29 (IANS) Another former Trinamool Congress councillor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has been arrested on extortion charges, police said on Monday.

Shams Iqbal, a Trinamool leader from Garden Reach and a close associate of former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, was arrested following allegations that he extorted Rs 70 lakh from a local businessman.

Iqbal, who represented Ward No. 134, had reportedly shared the stage with Hakim at several public meetings in the past.

According to the complaint filed by Mohammad Shadab at the Garden Reach police station, the accused and his associates began extorting money from him in June 2023, allegedly telling him that payment was necessary to run his business smoothly in the area.

The complainant alleged that a total of Rs 70 lakh was forcibly taken from him, and that he was threatened with death along with his family if he failed to comply.

He further claimed that the extortion continued repeatedly, including demands made at gunpoint. Due to fear, he did not approach the police earlier.

Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered against Iqbal and his associates, including Mohammad Faraz and Feroz Qureshi. Police said the accused were influential in the area.

Iqbal was arrested late on Sunday night and will be produced before a city court on Monday. Police are likely to seek custody for further questioning.

Cases under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including extortion and criminal intimidation, have been filed against him. Charges under the Arms Act have also been invoked.

With this arrest, around 13 former Trinamool councillors of KMC have been held on charges including extortion and molestation since the change of government in the state.

Police said more complainants are now coming forward, alleging they had previously remained silent out of fear.

Meanwhile, the KMC civic board is currently being run by an administrator following the resignation of Mayor Firhad Hakim, pending fresh elections.

–IANS

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