Kolkata civic volunteer Anusua Saha was granted bail after being produced before the Alipore Court on Wednesday in connection with an alleged attempt to attack former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with a knife outside her Kalighat residence, police said.
Saha was arrested after an incident reported at around 6 pm on Tuesday. Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner (South) Rahul De said investigators were examining why the civic volunteer had visited Kalighat and what happened outside Banerjee’s residence.
“We are investigating the reason behind the civic volunteer’s visit to Kalighat and the events that transpired outside the former Chief Minister’s residence,” De said, according to The Statesman.
The complaint alleges that Saha attempted to attack Banerjee while carrying a sharp knife. Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen alleged that Saha identified herself as a civic volunteer and used abusive language towards the former chief minister. These claims remain part of the complaint and police investigation.
Police headquarters sources are also examining allegations that Saha had been absent from work for a prolonged period. The report does not establish whether any such absence was connected to the alleged incident outside Banerjee’s residence. Police have not drawn a definitive conclusion linking the two matters.
The allegation that Saha was a drug addict has also not been verified. The report attributes the claim to Sen and states that it requires investigation. No conclusion on the allegation has been reported by the police.
Investigators are examining Saha’s identity, employment records, movements before and after the incident, and other aspects of the complaint. These inquiries are intended to establish the sequence of events and the circumstances in which the civic volunteer reached Kalighat.
The case places attention on the role of civic volunteers within Kolkata’s public administration and on the security procedures surrounding the residences of senior political figures. However, the available account does not specify Saha’s exact duties, place of posting, employment status at the time of the incident or the sections of law invoked in the case.
The court granted bail after Saha was produced before it on Wednesday. Kolkata Police’s investigation into the reported incident, her employment records and the events outside the residence is continuing.
