Former Trinamool Congress MLA Ajit Maity was arrested in West Bengal on Friday, September 25, in connection with an allegation that he accepted ₹15 lakh after promising to help a party worker secure a block-level TMC post. Maity has described the arrest as politically motivated, while the Trinamool Congress has alleged that he is being targeted as part of political vendetta.

The allegation remains under investigation and has not been proven in court. Police had not issued a detailed public statement on the evidence against Maity when the first reports of his arrest emerged.

Ajit Maity Arrested From His Home Early Friday

Police arrested Maity from his residence near Madpur in the Kharagpur area of Paschim Medinipur early on Friday. He was subsequently taken to Debra police station, with reports saying he was expected to be produced before a court in Midnapore.

Maity is a former MLA from the Pingla Assembly constituency and currently holds the post of vice-president of the Paschim Medinipur Zilla Parishad. He has also previously held organisational responsibilities in the Trinamool Congress in the district.

He won Pingla for the TMC in the 2021 Assembly election but lost the constituency to a BJP candidate in the 2026 state polls.

What Is the ₹15 Lakh Allegation?

According to police-source accounts reported by Ei Samay, an FIR was lodged at Pingla police station on September 23 by Gobinda Das. The complaint alleges that Maity took ₹15 lakh in 2016 after promising to help Das become a TMC block president.

Das had previously been associated with the Trinamool Congress and served as president of the Jamna No. 2 region under Pingla block in 2016, according to the report. He is now identified as a BJP leader.

The complainant alleges that he did not receive the promised block president position and later sought the return of his money. He further claims that the money was not returned and that he faced harassment when he sought repayment. These are allegations contained in the complaint and are yet to be established through the legal process.

Another report described the police action more broadly as arising from a financial fraud complaint alleging that money had been accepted in return for securing a party position.

Maity Says Arrest Is Politically Motivated

Before being taken to Debra police station, Maity rejected the implication that the police action reflected wrongdoing on his part.

He said the arrest had been made for “political reasons” and added that he continued to have faith in the police and administration.

The Trinamool Congress has similarly characterised the arrest as political retaliation. A report in Sangbad Pratidin said the party alleged that Maity had become a victim of political vendetta.

No court has yet ruled on the underlying allegations, and the party’s vendetta claim is its political position rather than an established finding.

Police Yet to Give Detailed Public Account

Early reporting on Friday showed some uncertainty over the precise grounds for the arrest.

While later reports linked the action to the alleged ₹15 lakh transaction, Anandabazar reported that district police had not yet made a formal detailed announcement on the case and that the superintendent of police had declined to comment at that stage.

Other outlets initially reported only that Maity had been taken into custody from his residence, before details of the September 23 complaint emerged.

That means further information from the FIR, remand proceedings and police investigation will be important in establishing the prosecution’s case.

Ajit Maity’s Political Background

Maity has been associated with the Trinamool Congress for years and previously served as a district-level party president.

An official TMC organisational announcement from 2020 listed Ajit Maity as president of the Paschim Medinipur district committee, alongside other district functionaries.

He later represented Pingla in the West Bengal Assembly after winning the 2021 election. His 2026 election affidavit again listed him as an All India Trinamool Congress candidate from Pingla.

His arrest therefore involves a politician who has held both elected office and senior organisational responsibilities within the party.

Political Dispute Surrounds the Arrest

The case has quickly acquired a political dimension because the complainant is now associated with the BJP, while Maity remains aligned with the TMC.

However, the political affiliations of the individuals involved do not by themselves establish whether the complaint is genuine or politically motivated.

Police will need to substantiate the allegation regarding the alleged payment, while Maity will have the opportunity to challenge the case and the circumstances of his arrest through the legal process.

The central factual question is whether money was taken in return for a promised party appointment, as alleged in the FIR.

Key Facts

Who was arrested?
Former Pingla TMC MLA Ajit Maity.

When was he arrested?
Early on September 25, 2026.

What is the allegation?
A complainant alleges that Maity accepted ₹15 lakh in 2016 after promising to help him secure the TMC’s Pingla block president post.

When was the FIR filed?
The complaint was filed at Pingla police station on September 23, according to reports citing police sources.

What does Maity say?
He has described his arrest as politically motivated.

What does the TMC say?
The party has alleged political vendetta.

Why the Case Matters

The investigation concerns an allegation of money being exchanged for an internal political-party position, making the evidence surrounding the alleged transaction central to the case.

It also comes in a politically contested environment in West Bengal, where the arrest of a former legislator has immediately prompted competing interpretations from the accused leader and his party.

At this stage, the appropriate distinction is clear: the ₹15 lakh payment claim is an allegation being investigated, while the claim of political vendetta is the TMC’s response to the police action. Neither has been established as a judicial finding.

What Happens Next?

Maity was expected to be produced before a Midnapore court following his arrest. The court proceedings are likely to provide further details about the charges invoked, the evidence cited by investigators and whether police seek custody for further questioning.

Further clarity will also depend on an official police account and the progress of the investigation into the alleged payment.

FAQs

Why was former TMC MLA Ajit Maity arrested?

Maity was arrested after a complaint alleging that he accepted ₹15 lakh in return for promising to help a party worker secure a TMC block president position. The allegation has not been proven in court.

Who filed the complaint against Ajit Maity?

Reports identify the complainant as Gobinda Das, who was earlier associated with the TMC and is now described as a BJP leader.

How much money is Ajit Maity accused of taking?

The complaint alleges a payment of ₹15 lakh.

What has Ajit Maity said about his arrest?

Maity said his arrest was politically motivated while expressing confidence in the police and administrative system.

What has the TMC said about the case?

The Trinamool Congress has alleged that Maity’s arrest is an act of political vendetta. That claim has not been independently established.