Key facts
- Trinamool Congress councillor Sushanta Ghosh and four others have been booked for forgery and cheating.
- The case involves the alleged sale of a footpath stall for Rs 3.5 lakh.
- The complainant received a smaller stall than promised and a forged municipal license.
- Ghosh is currently absconding in relation to another case.
- Previous complaints from hawkers accused Ghosh of extorting large sums for stall permissions.
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress councillor Sushanta Ghosh and four associates have been booked on charges of forgery and cheating following a complaint regarding the sale of a footpath stall for Rs 3.5 lakh. The complainant alleges that after receiving the payment, Ghosh and his associates provided a smaller stall than promised and supplied a forged municipal license.
The structure was reportedly being used as an ambulance room by the Ruby Market Committee and lacked a valid government license. A police officer confirmed that an FIR has been registered based on the complaint filed at Anandapur Police Station, and all allegations are under investigation.
According to the FIR, the complainant had been seeking a shop to start a business in November 2022 when Ghosh allegedly offered to arrange a stall. The complainant stated he remained silent for years due to fear of the councillor and his associates.
Ghosh is reportedly absconding in connection with another case registered against him at the same police station. Earlier, on May 29, members of a hawkers' association had lodged a complaint accusing the councillor of extorting between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4 lakh for stall permissions, claiming a total of approximately Rs 3 crore was collected from hawkers in the area.