Rajiv Banerjee, a recovery agent for a public sector bank in Asansol, was arrested by the Asansol South Police Phari (outpost) under the Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate (ADPC) for allegedly threatening a person while demanding money over a loan default.
He was produced before the Asansol Court today, where the police sought 10 days’ custody for further investigation. However, the court rejected the custody plea and granted him bail after he submitted an affidavit along with his bail petition.
Biswajit Nashkar, ACP (central) of the ADPC, said that a resident of Asansol had lodged a written complaint at the Asansol South Police Phari against Banerjee, alleging that he had repeatedly demanded money and issued threats over the failure to repay a bank loan, warning that the defaulter’s house would be mortgaged. Following this complaint, the police took action and arrested him.
Neither the central public sector bank nor Banerjee commented on the matter when approached by the local media. Police have registered a case against him under various sections at Asansol South PP.
Incidentally, Banerjee lives near the residence of law, judiciary and labour minister Moloy Ghatak in the upmarket Apcar Garden area of Asansol.
The incident has caused a stir in the locality. Notably, during the 2016 Assembly elections, Banerjee was also involved in an agitation that obstructed the vehicle of the central poll observer at Court More in Burnpur Road, before police dispersed the crowd.