Mamata Banerjee's Close Aide Dilip Mondal Detained From Hotel In Odisha

Dilip Mondal, a close aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress MLA from Bishnupur in South 24 Parganas, has been detained by West Bengal Police from a hotel in Puri. According to police, the Special Task Force (STF) of Bengal Police is bringing Mondal to Kolkata on transit remand. Video Triggered Controversy Recently, a video allegedly featuring Dilip Mondal went viral on social media. However, the authenticity of the video has not been independently verified. The video reportedly showed the MLA allegedly threatening workers and supporters of another political party. Following the circulation of the clip, a police complaint was filed against him. Based on the allegations, police registered a case under non-bailable sections and began an investigation. Police Raid and Search Operation As part of the probe, police conducted a raid at the MLA’s residence on May 14, but he was not found there. According to local sources, Mondal allegedly fled after learning that police teams were approaching his house. Since then, he had reportedly been absconding, while police teams searched multiple locations to trace him. Officials said the STF recently received information that the MLA was hiding in a hotel in Puri. Acting on the tip-off, STF personnel along with Diamond Harbour Police reached the hotel and detained him after confirming his presence there. MLA’s Son Among Earlier Arrests Earlier, on May 17, police had arrested five people, including the MLA’s son Arghya Mondal. According to a senior Diamond Harbour Police official, Arghya Mondal was allegedly arrested with weapons and accused of creating unrest in the area. The STF and Diamond Harbour Police had jointly conducted an operation to trace him, following which he and four others were arrested from the Bakkhali-Fraserganj coastal area near the Bay of Bengal.