Kolkata:
Police in West Bengal's Birbhum district have arrested Ashish Dey, a man known to be a member of the ruling Trinamool Congress, after he was caught on CCTV of a private nursing home threatening the staff with a gun. He will be produced in a court later today. The police had yesterday slapped five non-bailable cases against him.
In a complaint lodged by the manager of the hospital, it has been alleged that a group, led by Mr Dey, went inside the hospital building on Friday night. Mr Dey reportedly had an argument with the hospital staff and allegedly brandished a revolver to threaten them. Mr Dey reportedly also threatened the staff of shutting down the nursing home.
The hospital's managing director JP Khaitan said, "He first started a verbal spat with our employees accompanied by a group who repeatedly pleaded with them to leave the hospital premises. Dey then suddenly whipped out a revolver and threatened our staff."
The nursing home authorities, however, reportedly took a whole day to inform the police. Sources claimed that the police too did not act till the CCTV footage of the whole incident became public.
After the incident came to light, Trinamool leaders claimed that Mr Dey had been thrown out of the party a long time ago. Trinamool MP Shatabdi Roy said, "Ashish Dey is no more with our party. He was suspended a couple of years back."
However, Mr Dey has been seen with senior Trinamool leaders as recently as November 7. In fact, Mr Dey is known to be close to Trinamool district president Anubrata Mondal, who now has distanced himself from the accused, saying he should be arrested if guilty.
Ms Roy, disassociating Mamata Banerjee's party from the controversial Mr Dey, added, "This man is damaging the image of TMC. I would request everyone belonging to our organisation not to associate with such a person."
The police have charged Mr Dey under the Arms Act, among others.
(With inputs from PTI)