West Bengal: Arrest of Former Mayor’s Aide in Warehouse Collapse Intensifies Political Tensions

In a fiery speech delivered in the West Bengal Assembly on Thursday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari linked the warehouse collapse in Kolkata’s Taratala, which led to 15 deaths, to alleged systemic corruption in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). He specifically named Kalicharan Bandyopadhyay, the former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to ex-Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim. Hours later, Bandyopadhyay was arrested by the Kolkata Police on the orders of a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The arrest has heated up state political circles. Bandyopadhyay, known as Kali, was a powerful bureaucrat who rose through the state civil service and briefly served in the police. Sources say he effectively managed KMC affairs during Hakim’s tenure, especially after Hakim became mayor in 2018 while also holding multiple ministries. With Hakim unable to dedicate sufficient time to mayoral duties, Bandyopadhyay oversaw municipal administration.

In the Assembly, Chief Minister Adhikari targeted Hakim directly. “In the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, no plan gets passed without Kali’s permission,” he said. “If Kali is picked up, everything will come to light.” Adhikari also noted that the building plan for the warehouse, approved on January 17, bears the signatures of the former mayor and three KMC engineers.

Hakim denied personal responsibility, stating, “The Mayor does not sign any building plan… or go into the details.” However, documented evidence has given the ruling BJP fresh ammunition. The Adhikari government has set up panels to probe allegations of institutional corruption during the previous TMC regime. On Wednesday, Adhikari announced plans to introduce a stringent law to confiscate and auction assets of corrupt politicians and officials.

The TMC is currently split into two camps: the faction loyal to Mamata Banerjee and the rebel faction led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, which Hakim joined after resigning as KMC Mayor on June 5. Interestingly, the investigation has created a rare alignment between the ruling BJP and Mamata loyalists. TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh from the Mamata faction openly backed the chief minister’s aggressive stance, urging him to target political heavyweights. “If only four or five people are arrested, and all those in high positions are not, then it won’t work,” Ghosh said. “The CM said the building plan has the former Mayor’s signature; then arrest him.”

By going after Hakim’s inner circle, the Adhikari dispensation is trying to establish accountability leading to the former mayor, sources said. Hakim now has few allies: the BJP sees him as a high-value target in its anti-graft drive, while his former colleagues in the Mamata camp also hold grudges. The ongoing probe continues to unfold.