Four persons were arrested on Sunday in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district for allegedly trying to extort a huge amount of money, as Durga Puja subscription, from a Bengali film director and producer close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Police said the four accused are members of a youth club based in Lataguri who allegedly demanded exhorbitant amount from film-director Arindam Sil and his unit through intimidation.
Sil was reportedly staying in a private resort in Lataguri with his unit to shoot for his upcoming film.
"They should admit that they lashed at our doors and misbehaved with us. If they can harass a unit of hundred in that way, I can't imagine what they would do to common people," Sil said, adding that they demanded Rs 30,000 and threatened them with dire consequences if the subscription is not given quickly.
Sil and his unit filed a complaint last Tuesday in Kranti outpost under Malbazar police station.
The club members have, however, denied the allegation and said Sil is trying to malign their reputation.
"Our members asked for just Rs 3,000 as puja subscription. They never misbehaved. He (Sil) is misusing his power and closeness to the ruling party," a club member said.
Earlier, Sil came up with a statement calling for expulsion of the extortionists from the ruling Trinamool Congress and accused its Jalpaiguri district president Saurav Chakraborty of trying to save the accused club members.
--IANS
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