Former Kolkata Councillor Shams Iqbal Anil arrested in ₹70 lakh extortion case
Kolkata Councillor Shams Iqbal Anil was arrested for allegedly extorting a businessman of ₹70 lakh, police said on Monday (June 29, 2026). Anil, who represented
Kolkata Councillor Shams Iqbal Anil was arrested for allegedly extorting a businessman of ₹70 lakh, police said on Monday (June 29, 2026). Anil, who represented ward 134 and is considered a close associate of former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, was arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by Mohammad Shadab, a resident of Metiabruz, at the Garden Reach police station, they said.
According to the complaint, Mr. Anil and his associates, Mohammad Faraz and Firoz Qureshi, allegedly threatened to kill Mr. Shadab and his family before forcing him to hand over ₹70 lakh in June 2023. Police detained Mr. Anil on Sunday (June 28, 2026) night and arrested him after prolonged questioning.
"We have made the arrest on the basis of a written complaint and preliminary investigation. The allegations include extortion, criminal intimidation and other relevant offences under the law," a police officer said. Anil was regarded as one of the influential Councillors in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation during the TMC regime.
According to police sources, with this arrest, the number of Kolkata Councillors arrested in different criminal cases has risen to 10.
The BriefWire