TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das arrested at Kolkata airport

West Bengal Police arrested Trinamool Congress legislator Paresh Ram Das at Kolkata airport on Monday as he was preparing to travel to Mumbai, in connection with multiple criminal cases including allegations of rape and extortion. Police said a special team from Baruipur apprehended him with assistance from the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate.

The arrest followed a case registered at Canning police station on September 5, according to police accounts. The allegations in that case include rape, extortion and other offences. Das is accused, not convicted, and the reports do not establish the truth of the allegations. Police said he was wanted in several cases and had been sought for questioning.

Das told reporters after his arrest that he did not know what charges had been brought against him and was being made to sign papers. Police said he was taken into custody for questioning. One report said he was held at Narendrapur Police Station after his arrest; another said he was taken to the Baruipur district police headquarters.

A district police officer said prosecutors planned to seek police custody when Das was presented at a district court on Tuesday afternoon, November 10, to...