Cops parade ex-MLA Saokat in Jibantala for crime scene reconstruction
Times of India | 3 July 2026
Kolkata: Former Canning East MLA Saokat Molla, an accused in multiple criminal cases, was paraded in Canning’s Jibantala on Thursday while being taken to the crime scene for reconstruction of events as part of an ongoing investigation.
As he arrived in the market area under heavy police escort, large crowds gathered along the roadside, with many playing the viral poll-time song “Saokat to machh chor” (Saokat is a fish thief). Some members of the crowd also raised slogans and shouted abuses at the accused.
Police sources said Saokat was brought to the spot solely for investigative purposes and not for any public display. Officers conducted a reconstruction of the incident and verified various aspects of the case at the location. However, the former MLA’s presence triggered visible anger among a section of local residents.
Saokat contested the 2026 assembly election from Bhangar constituency as a Trinamool candidate but lost to ISF’s Nawsad Siddique. During campaign, the song “machh chor” went viral and sparked political controversy. Siddique denied any ISF involvement behind the song, describing it as being in “poor taste”.
Following the elections, NIA arrested Saokat in connection with the Bhangar blast case. He was later taken into custody by Jibantala police in a rape case.
In a parallel development, the district administration on Thursday demolished luxury café Aranyer Kule, allegedly built by Saokat’s son Imran, for encroaching upon a riverine land on the Matla.
Officials said the structure was declared illegal after verification of land records. Although the owners were directed to remove the construction by June 29, they allegedly failed to comply, prompting the administration to carry out the bulldozer operation.