In a major setback to the CPI(M), its former MP and prime accused in the Nandigram recapture case, Lakshman Seth, was arrested in a joint operation by the criminal investigation department(CID) of the West Bengal police and Mumbai police from a guest house in Mumbai on Saturday morning.
Booked on murder and other serious charges, the CPI(M) strongman was absconding since the CID started its probe and filed its chargesheet in the case against 88 accused, including Seth, in the Haldia court on January 30 this year. The same court recently issued a non bailable arrest warrant against him.
Two other CPI(M) leaders, Amiya Sahu and Ashok Guria, also accused in the case, were arrested with him. The total number of arrest rose to 20. While Sahu is the former MLA of the party from Panskura (East) in East Midnapore, Guria is the zonal committee secretary of Nandigram.
In the afternoon, the trio was produced before the additional chief metropolitan magistrate of the Kurla Court, said CID’s deputy inspector general of police (operations) K. Jayaraman. “The Mumbai police helped us in the operation. The court granted their transit remand to produce them before the Haldia Court within March 22.”
Elaborating on the charges against the accused, Mr Jayaraman informed that they were facing charges of murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, rioting and destruction of evidence. But the arrest of Seth was not easy for the CID which searched for him in Tripura, New Delhi and Hyderabad before arresting him in Mumbai.
Earlier this month, the special operations group (SOG) of the CID received a tip-off about his presence in Hyderabad where they took shelter after fleeing the state. When the SOG reached Hyderabad, it learnt that the trio had fled to Mumbai. With the help of the Chembur police, the SOG then zeroed in on a guest house.