Dilip Mondal, former transport minister in the Mamata Banerjee government and a sitting Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA, was arrested by the West Bengal Police STF from a hotel in Puri on Monday after remaining untraceable for several weeks, police sources said.

Mondal, a TMC MLA from Bishnupur constituency in South 24 Parganas district, had allegedly gone into hiding after complaints surfaced accusing him of threatening political rivals and opposition supporters. Investigators had earlier termed him ‘absconding’ and launched multiple raids to trace him.

“Two persons had come to the hotel and the room was booked in Dilip Mondal’s name after necessary documentation. Police team came to the hotel and took him with them after questioning,” said Dillip Mishra, hotel manager.

As part of the investigation, police teams had conducted searches at two properties linked to the MLA in the Pailan area on May 14.

The development comes close on the heels of the arrest of Mondal’s son, Arghya Mondal, who was apprehended along with five others from the Bakkhali-Fraserganj area in South 24 Parganas on May 18. The operation was jointly carried out by West Bengal Police and Diamond Harbour district police.

According to police officials, two pistols and six mobile phones were seized during the raid. The accused were later taken to Diamond Harbour police station for interrogation. Investigators also alleged that Arghya Mondal had been intimidating BJP workers and supporters in the region.

Police sources said the probe into the illegal arms case and allegations of political intimidation eventually intensified scrutiny on the TMC MLA himself, leading to efforts to track him down outside West Bengal.

Political Heat Rises in Bengal

The arrest of Dilip Mondal comes amid increasing action against several Trinamool Congress leaders and functionaries over allegations ranging from corruption and extortion to irregularities in civic recruitment.

Recently, former Trinamool minister Sujit Bose was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged recruitment scam linked to the South Dum Dum Municipality under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

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Central agencies have also questioned former South Dum Dum Municipality chairperson Panchu Roy over alleged recruitment irregularities.

In another setback for the ruling party, three councillors were arrested last week in separate cases related to alleged extortion and intimidation.

Political tensions further escalated following the death of South Dum Dum councillor Sanjay Das, who was found hanging on May 23. 
Police registered a case of unnatural death. Das was considered close to Trinamool leader Debraj Chakraborty, who is also facing investigation in connection with the alleged civic recruitment scam.