In a significant development in the Nabanna Abhijan case, Kolkata Police made their first arrest on August 12. Chandan Gupta, a 40-year-old resident of Jagaddal in North 24 Parganas, was taken into custody.

Gupta, reportedly a BJP member and close associate of party leader Arjun Singh, has been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 109(1) (attempt to murder) and Section 121(2) (voluntarily causing hurt).

According to Joint CP (Crime) Rupesh Kumar, Gupta was arrested at approximately 5:10 pm from the intersection of Bentick Street and B B Ganguly Street. Police allege that Gupta has direct involvement in the case, which was initially lodged on August 9 at the New Market Police Station.

Police sources said that after reviewing CCTV footage, Gupta was allegedly identified as being directly involved in the assault on the security guard of DC (SSD) Bidisha Kalita.

A day before the arrest, police officials presented alleged videos and photographs showing the rally moving south and officers being assaulted, including an image of DC (SSD) Bidisha Kalita’s bodyguard being kicked in the head.

So far, six cases have been registered in connection with the unrest on the day of the Nabanna campaign, which was a rally held to mark the first anniversary of the rape and murder at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. Lalbazar sources said that by examining the footage, a few people have been identified. Notices have already been sent to six people in three of the six cases.