Patashpur: Former Trinamool Congress Contai district president Pijush Kanti Panda was arrested from his Patashpur residence late Monday night for allegedly defrauding a contractor by promising work. Panda was the TMC candidate from Patashpur assembly constituency in East Midnapore.Produced before Contai sub-divisional court on Tuesday, he was remanded to seven days’ police custody.According to police, a complaint alleging embezzlement and cheating was recently lodged at Patashpur police station, prompting a midnight raid at his residence.While Panda was being taken to court, BJP supporters gathered outside Patashpur police station around 11 am, forcing security personnel to set up cordons.Claiming innocence, Panda said: “I have been falsely implicated in a conspiracy. Once I return, I will sit on a hunger strike.”BJP mandal president Krishnagopal Das said the TMC functionary had long faced allegations of misusing power, while TMC representative Tapas Majhi said: “The law will take its course.”
