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Crime, law and justice
Lokpal relies on CBI probe to reject corruption complaint against rebel TMC MP Arup Chakraborty
Arup was accused of using his brother as a conduit to indulge in illegal acts, including unauthorised construction and encroachment over a water body in Mejia in Bankura district.
New Delhi: Anti-corruption watchdog Lokpal has rejected a corruption complaint against rebel Trinamool Congress member of Parliament Arup Chakraborty, after a preliminary enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) found that the allegations were “unsubstantiated”.
The order was passed last week, by the bench comprising Chairperson Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, and five members—Justice L. Narayana Swamy, Justice Sanjay Yadav, Sushil Chandra, Pankaj Kumar and Ajay Tirkey.
Chakraborty, who is a Lok Sabha MP from the Bankura seat, had merged with the little-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) along with 19 other TMC MPs in June this year, extending their support to the NDA.
“…this complaint is disposed of being devoid of merit,” the bench said.
Among other things, the allegations pertained to ‘Suchitra Children’s and Recreation Park’ owned by Arup’s brother Asish Chakraborty. Arup was accused of using his brother as a conduit to indulge in illegal activities, which included unauthorised construction and encroachment over a water body in Mejia in Bankura district of West Bengal. It was alleged that the “constructions were developed illegally by diverting government funds to the tune of approx. Rs. 100 crores,” and that illegal money was being earned from this jhill (lake), as boating and entry fee, amounting to Rs 50 lakhs per month.
The Lokpal had, in November 2025, directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into the allegations under provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013.
The enquiry officer submitted a report in August 2026, after collecting 45 documents and recording the statements of at least six witnesses. The report also included comments from Chakraborty.
The Lokpal has now observed: “Suffice it to observe that the allegations in the complaint have not been substantiated during the PI. We agree with the analysis of the relevant documents; and the conclusion reached by the IO in that regard. Nothing more needs to be done in the fact situation of the present case…”
It found “no evidence with regard to political pressure or interference” pertaining to the issue of the trade licence of the recreation park, and noted that it was issued, and renewed as per the law.
The bench also noted that the alleged activities were during the period on or before 2024 when Chakraborty was a Member of Legislative Council and not a Member of Parliament. Therefore, these activities would be excluded from the ambit of the 2013 law, which covers only MPs, central government employees, members of corporations, boards, or trusts established as a central law, or funded by the Union government or the state government, and not MLAs.