Sushanta’s Bachchan arrested, cops to check call details to trace councillor

Kolkata: Cops on Wednesday nabbed Sujit Kumar Pal alias Bachchan, from Kolkata airport. Pal is the right-hand man of Kasba councillor Sushanta Ghosh, who is currently on the run. Cops have formed multiple teams to conduct raids to nab Ghosh.

Ghosh, the Trinamool councillor of KMC ward 108, went missing with his family shortly after several hawkers’ committee members lodged an extortion complaint against him.

The investigation has revealed an alleged extortion racket centered around the Ruby crossing, where Ghosh allegedly amassed Rs 3 crore by unlawfully setting up shops. Investigators suspect the wider racket to have made illegal collections over the last several years.

Cops are now banking on Bachchan’s arrest to achieve a breakthrough. Known as Ghosh’s key associate, Bachchan’s wealth skyrocketed within a span of two years. Cops revealed he acquired five premium plots, four flats, and luxury phones, alongside asserting immense clout by running illegal shop allotments and evictions in the Anandapur jurisdiction.

Bachchan was attacked with eggs by locals outside Anandapur Police Station after his arrest, with locals claiming he illegally turned a property meant to house the poor into a guest house.

Sources said Bachchan has been in regular phone contact with Ghosh, and cyber cells are analyzing Bachchan’s phone logs to track the councillor.