Kolkata: The anti-corruption watchdog Lokpal has rejected allegations against Trinamool’s rebel MP Arup Chakraborty, after a CBI preliminary inquiry found the charges “unsubstantiated”.In its order passed last week, Lokpal noted that the allegations related to a period before 2024, when Chakraborty was a member of the legislative council and not Parliament.The order was passed by a bench headed by chairperson Justice A M Khanwilkar and comprising Justice L Narayana Swamy, Justice Sanjay Yadav, Sushil Chandra, Pankaj Kumar and Ajay Tirkey.The bench had ordered a CBI inquiry in Nov 2025. The agency submitted its preliminary report on Aug 28, 2026, after collecting 45 documents and recording statements of six witnesses.The complaint alleged Chakraborty had collected “illegal proceeds”, coerced residents and misused political influence. It also alleged irregularities in a children’s park licence, leasing of a govt fishery project to a company owned by him, encroachment on a large tract of land demarcated as a waterbody or “jhil” and diversion of Rs 100 crore.Lokpal said all six specific allegations were “unsubstantiated” and no evidence of political influence was found.
