KOLKATA, Nov 10: Police arrested Trinamool Congress MLA Paresh Ram Das at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here on Monday in connection with multiple cases, including allegations of rape, extortion and post-poll violence.
Das, the MLA from Canning West in South 24 Parganas district, was held while preparing to board a Mumbai-bound flight, police said.
A special team of Baruipur district police carried out the operation at the airport with the assistance of Bidhannagar Police after receiving information about his whereabouts.
Police sources said Das was named in case No. 561/2026, registered at Canning police station on September 5, 2026, under Sections 376, 323, 420, 120B and 506 of the Indian Penal Code. A woman alleged that she was confined in a room and raped around three years ago. The allegations were under investigation.
Police were also investigating Das in connection with violence during the 2023 panchayat elections. The CID had also questioned him in a case linked to the violence.
After his arrest, Das was taken to the Baruipur police office. Police said he would be produced before a court on Tuesday.
“I am not aware of the allegations and do not know why I have been arrested,” Das told reporters outside the airport.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh questioned the timing of the arrest. He said police action began after the MLA expressed his wish to return from another camp within the party to Mamata Banerjee’s camp.
