Kolkata: The Thakurpukur police has registered an FIR against former cabinet minister Partha Chatterjee, former Trinamool councillor Ghanasree Bag, Tilak Bhattacharjee and Sudip Ghosh on charges of assault, extortion and criminal intimidation over an alleged 2020 incident involving a former Behala BJP functionary who died in judicial custody months later.The case has been registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including extortion, criminal intimidation, assault and common intention, since the alleged offences predate the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.According to the complaint, an altercation at Thakurpukur on Jan 23, 2020, left Bhaskar Banerjee injured. The complainant alleged that although her father-in-law, a BJP district member, was not present, Ghosh, Bag and Bhattacharjee, allegedly acting on a plan by Chatterjee, falsely implicated him in the assault, leading to his arrest on Jan 30.The complainant alleged that while the BJP functionery was in judicial custody, the accused forced the family to shut its business for six months, causing losses of Rs 30-40 lakh, and extorted Rs 25 lakh by promising to secure his release.They later allegedly demanded another Rs 1 crore. Saha died in custody on July 20, 2020.The complaint further alleged continued harassment, threats and attempts to block the family’s business after his death.Police sources said they have begun an investigation.
