Former West Bengal Minister for Correctional Administration, Ujjal Biswas, was arrested late Tuesday night in connection with an alleged relief materials misappropriation case, following hours of questioning by the police. He will be produced before the Krishnanagar Sessions Court on Wednesday.
The arrest came amid dramatic scenes earlier in the day, when an angry crowd gathered outside Biswas’s residence in Shashitala, accusing him of irregularities in the storage and distribution of government relief supplies. Protesters shouted slogans and hurled eggs at the former minister, prompting police intervention. He was subsequently taken into custody for his safety and later detained for questioning.
According to police sources, discrepancies emerged during the interrogation, leading officers to conduct a search at his residence. A large stockpile of relief materials was allegedly recovered and seized from the premises, intensifying suspicions of wrongdoing.
Biswas, a former MLA from Krishnanagar South, was formally arrested following the interrogation. A close associate, identified as Sucharita Ghosh, was also detained in connection with the case.
The arrest has triggered sharp political reactions. Trinamool Congress MP from Krishnanagar, Mahua Moitra, strongly criticised the action, alleging that it was part of a politically motivated conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP. Defending Biswas, Mahua said that it was common practice for MLAs to store relief materials such as clothing and tarpaulins for distribution during festivals and emergencies. She claimed that Biswas had retained the materials at his residence due to the announcement of elections during Eid, which prevented timely distribution.
Mahua further alleged that following a change in government, directives were issued for officials to collect such materials from former legislators. She claimed that Biswas had already requested local authorities to retrieve the items, and that a vehicle had been sent for the purpose on June 9. According to her, the situation escalated when BJP supporters allegedly gathered at the scene, vandalised the residence, and assaulted Biswas.
“This was not public outrage but a staged act of hooliganism,” she said, and further questioned the basis of the arrest, stating that the police failed to provide a clear explanation or confirm whether an FIR had been properly registered.
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