Kolkata: BJP has suspended a local party worker in Behala and started a probe against a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha functionary in Sinthee after FIRs were registered against them for allegedly trying to extort lakhs of rupees from property owners and traders to “allow them constructions”. A promoter, Kashinath Mondal, and his wife, Chanchalika, lodged a complaint at the Behala PS against BJP functionary Tuhin Pal that he wrongfully restrained Kashinath and demanded Rs 5,00,000 as a “mandatory condition” to allow constructions at a site on Banamali Naskar Road in Behala. When the couple refused, Pal allegedly threatened them with dire consequences and brought the work to a stop. Following an FIR, on the recommendation of the BJP disciplinary committee and following instructions from state party president Samik Bhattacharya, Pal was suspended and served a show-cause notice, directing him to reply within seven days on the charges of anti-party activities, criminal intimidation and extortion. But Pal alleged, “Some in my party are involved in post-election violence and extortion. I was targeted as I protested against it. I am a victim of factional fights. I have lodged a complaint against that promoter.” In Sinthee, Harish Chandra Kumar Shaw (48), owner of Kalpana Traders, lodged a complaint at the Sinthi PS against Sumanta Dey, president of BJYM. Shaw said he bought a plot in 2022, mutated the property at KMC in 2025 and signed an agreement with existing tenants—Pintu Dey, Sudhansu Dey, Chandan Dey and Pratap Dey—promising four single-room flats of about 370 sq ft each upon development. But on May 6, Sumanta, Sudhansu’s son, allegedly summoned Shaw to the site and demanded Rs 3,00,000 in cash and on July 12, he blocked the delivery of materials to the construction site.
