The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Chhatradhar Mahato in the early hours of Sunday from his residence in West Bengal’s Jhargram district in relation to the murder of CPI(M) leader Prabir Mahato in 2009.
The development comes a day after the first phase of the Assembly elections in the State in 30 seats in five districts including Purulia, West Medinipur, Bankura and Jhargram where Mahato has considerable clout.
According to NIA sources Mahato (50), the former convener of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA), which served as the frontal organisation of Maoists, was arrested by a team of about 40 NIA officials.
They further revealed that a case has been lodged against Mahato under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
“He was produced before a city court on Sunday which remanded him to NIA custody for two days,” an NIA official said.
Earlier the Calcutta High Court directed Mahato to appear before the NIA thrice a week to cooperate with the Central agency in the investigation of the case. He was summoned by NIA to appear before investigators at its Kolkata office on March 16, but he did not turn up citing toothache.
Mahato’s wife Niyati alleged that he was almost dragged out of his house by the NIA.
“The NIA officials barged into our house. They snatched the cell phones of my husband’s security guards and then almost dragged him out of the house,” said Niyati.
She also said Mahato has already served a prison sentence for 10 years asking why was he arrested again. He served the sentence for his involvement in a land mine blast case by the Maoists in Salboni aimed at the then chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and former Union minister Ramvilas Paswan.
He was released from prison in February 2021 and was inducted into the TMC.
However, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said “the timing of the arrest indicates that it may be politically motivated.”