{
  "id": 9737915,
  "title": "Mamata AITC leader Ajit Maity arrested on extortion charges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/mamata-aitc-leader-ajit-maity-arrested-on-extortion-charges",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T09:06:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/mamata-aitc-leader-ajit-maity-arrested-on-extortion-charges/article71507686.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "According to the West Bengal police, Ajit Maity, a leader of the Mamata All India Trinamool Congress, was arrested on September 25, 2026, on charges of extortion. Mr. Maity was taken into custody by police personnel from Pingla police station. The allegation against him involves the taking of money from a person named Gautam Das. Mr. Das claimed that Mr. Maity had promised him a position within the party in exchange for the money. Ajit Maity is affiliated with the faction of Trinamool Congress that supports Mamata Banerjee. He was arrested from his residence in Kharagpur and transferred to Debra police station. Before his arrest, Mr. Maity stated, \"This arrest is for political reasons. I have faith in the police and administration.\" Mr. Maity had previously won the Pingla constituency in the 2021 assembly elections but lost his 2026 re-election to a BJP candidate. Currently, he serves as the vice-president of the Midnapore Zilla Parishad and has held positions in the Trinamool Congress, including former president of the West Midnapore organizational district and Ghatal organizational district. In the wake of the BJP's rise to power in May 2026, several former Trinamool Congress MLAs and loyalists of Mamata Banerjee have been arrested, charged with violence, extortion, and intimidation. However, leaders from rebel factions of the Trinamool Congress have not faced arrest, leading to accusations from Mamata Banerjee supporters that the proceedings are politically motivated.",
  "summary": "Ajit Maity, who is associated with the Mamata Banerjee backed faction of Trinamool Congress, said that his arrest is for political reasons",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}