The incident in question took place last Saturday when Singh and his supporters allegedly vandalized the Congress office in Moulali, Kolkata. Reports indicate that they smeared black ink on a picture of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, tore banners, and raised slogans in protest against remarks allegedly made about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late mother during Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar. The protest quickly escalated into a confrontation, leading to widespread allegations of property damage and public disturbance.
Following the incident, police arrested several individuals associated with Singh, including Vijayprasad Dhanuk, Santoshkumar Rajbhar, and Dibyendu Samanta. However, Singh managed to avoid arrest, despite being the alleged mastermind behind the vandalism. His son, Shivam Singh, was arrested earlier this week for allegedly aiding his father’s escape. Police believe Shivam used his car to help his father flee the scene before law enforcement arrived.
Kolkata Police Joint Commissioner Rupesh Kumar confirmed Singh’s arrest, stating that a police team raided a flat in Tangra at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday after receiving a tip-off about his location. “Rakesh Singh, who had been at large for the past few days, was arrested during the raid. Police had been actively looking for him,” Kumar said.
Singh, who had remained active on social media, posted several videos during his time on the run, including one in which he threatened the police and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In the video, Singh was seen hurling abuses at Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, further intensifying the controversy surrounding his evasion.
The vandalism sparked outrage within the Congress party, with Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar leading a protest in the form of a road blockade at Moulali Crossing. The Congress demanded the immediate arrest of all individuals involved in the attack on their headquarters, including Singh. “We will not tolerate such attacks on our party and leaders. The culprits must be brought to justice,” said Sarkar.
Following the raid and Singh’s arrest, the police have booked him for multiple charges, including vandalism and public mischief. He will be produced in court for police custody, where further investigation into the incident will take place.
The arrest of Rakesh Singh has sent ripples through Bengal’s political landscape, with both the BJP and Congress continuing to exchange barbs over the incident. The situation remains tense, with Singh’s supporters and detractors each rallying around the event, which has become a flashpoint in the ongoing political battle between the state’s major political parties.
As of now, the Kolkata Police are continuing their investigation, and more arrests could follow depending on the developments surrounding the case.