A local Trinamool Congress leader was arrested on Thursday in connection with a three-year-old case involving allegations of outraging a woman’s modesty, blackmail and extortion.
The woman had alleged that her photographs were posted on social media without her knowledge or consent.
Majid Ansari was arrested by officers of Jorasanko police station.
On Friday, TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh staged a demonstration outside Amherst Street police station to protest against Ansari’s arrest.
“The leader who has been protesting against the involvement of influential people in the Chorebagan tragedy has been arrested in an old case. The political motive is clear,” Ghosh said.
The complaint lodged at Jorasanko police station accused a group of men, including Ansari, of allegedly accessing the woman’s mobile phone, stealing private photographs and videos, and threatening to circulate the material on social media unless she met their demands.
The complaint further alleged that she was offered the option of entering into a
physical relationship with one of the accused to prevent the material from being
circulated.
Some of her private photographs, videos and voice recordings, accompanied by derogatory comments, were allegedly uploaded to Facebook accounts operated by some of the accused.
The woman also alleged that she received threats through WhatsApp and over the phone.
Jorasanko police registered a case on October 2, 2023.
The case also invoked provisions of the Information Technology Act relating to unauthorised access and the circulation of sexually explicit material.