Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Malda restaurateur accused of extortion; TMC MLA questioned over land
In a town called Malda, a man named Amardeep Saha runs a restaurant and also lends money to people.
A woman borrowed ₹2 lakh from him in 2024 and paid back all the money on time.
But Saha kept asking for more money, which is called extortion.
One night he locked the woman and her two children in a room and took her house away.
The woman said she had asked the police for help before, but nothing happened because Saha was close to a powerful local leader.
After the state government changed, she went to the police again and wants her house back.
Saha has gone into hiding, and the police have started an investigation.
In a separate case, a leader named Abdur Rahim Boxi, who is a member of the state assembly, was questioned by police for taking land that was not his.
Police are looking into both matters.
Amardeep Saha, a Malda restaurant owner who allegedly runs an unlicensed private money-lending business, has gone into hiding after being accused of extortion and forcibly occupying a woman's house.
The homemaker complainant said she borrowed ₹2 lakh from Saha in 2024 and repaid it, but he kept demanding more money and, on the night of July 5, 2025, confined her and her two minor children to a room and drove her from her home.
Sanjay Sharma, the complainant's advocate, said Saha's racket targets poor people to capture their properties and that five police complaints have been lodged against him.
Krishnendu Choudhury, chairman of the Trinamool-run Englishbazar municipality, defended Saha as a "social worker and not a goonda," saying any money borrowed under a written undertaking must be refunded.
Trinamool MLA Abdur Rahim Boxi was questioned at Ratua police station over complaints that he occupied a 4.23 katha plot donated in the name of god and a state irrigation department plot.
- Who
- Amardeep Saha, the accused Malda restaurateur; an unnamed homemaker complainant; her advocate Sanjay Sharma; Englishbazar municipality chairman Krishnendu Choudhury; and Trinamool MLA Abdur Rahim Boxi.
- What
- Alleged extortion, forcible occupation of a woman's house and unlicensed money-lending by Saha, alongside land-grab complaints against MLA Abdur Rahim Boxi.
- When
- The loan was taken in 2024; the confinement occurred on the night of July 5, 2025; the woman's complaint was lodged on a Wednesday and Boxi was questioned the following Friday.
- Where
- Malda district, West Bengal — including the Baluchar area, Englishbazar police station and Ratua police station.
- Why
- Complainants allege the accused exploited debtors and political connections to seize homes and land; the woman sought action after a change in the state government.
Complainants and their supporters
Accused and Trinamool leaders
Saha's conduct and money-lending
Complainants and their supporters
The complainant says she repaid her ₹2 lakh loan on time yet Saha kept demanding more, confined her family, and captured her house; his unlicensed racket allegedly targets poor people.
Accused and Trinamool leaders
Choudhury says Saha is a social worker, not a goonda, and that any money borrowed under a written undertaking must be refunded.
Political protection for Saha
Complainants and their supporters
The complainant and advocate allege Choudhury helped Saha in all possible ways and that earlier police complaints went unaddressed because of their closeness.
Accused and Trinamool leaders
Choudhury publicly defends Saha and frames the matter as a private loan that should be repaid, rather than a crime.
Land-grab complaint against MLA Boxi
Complainants and their supporters
Shakuntala Ghosh and RSP district secretary Sarbananda Pandey allege Boxi occupied a 4.23 katha plot donated in the name of god and an irrigation department plot.
Accused and Trinamool leaders
Boxi says he answered all police questions to the best of his knowledge; no detailed denial is reported in the articles.
- Accused
- Amardeep Saha, Malda restaurant owner and unlicensed private money-lender
- Allegations
- Extortion and forcible occupation of a woman's house
- Loan in question
- ₹2 lakh, borrowed in 2024 and repaid on time per the complainant
- Key incident
- Night of July 5, 2025 — woman and her two minor children confined, house taken over
- Police complaints against Saha
- Five lodged so far
- Alleged political support
- Krishnendu Choudhury, chairman of the Trinamool-run Englishbazar municipality
- Legal requirement cited
- Money-lending requires a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) licence, which the accused lacked
- MLA questioned
- Abdur Rahim Boxi, TMC MLA of Malatipur, over alleged occupation of a 4.23 katha donated plot and an irrigation department plot