Kolkata, Jun 5 A court in Kolkata on Friday remanded arrested Trinamool Congress leader Swarup Biswas, the brother of the state's ex-Sports minister Aroop Biswas, to police custody till June 18.
He was arrested on Thursday night in connection with an alleged extortion racket operating in the Tollygunge film and television industry.
Seeking his police remand for 14 days, chief public prosecutor of the Kolkata Police, Sourin Ghosal, stated before the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court at Alipore that Biswas allegedly asked for sexual favours in return for allowing a woman to work in the industry and extorted around Rs 22 lakh from 50 other persons by making death threats.
It was also alleged that Biswas tried to kill a man with firearms.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alipore Court, granted police custody of Biswas till June 18.
The prosecution lawyer prayed for the custody of Biswas for the purpose of reconstruction of crime, for recovery of arms, and to trace the money trail as to where the alleged extorted money was parked.
Biswas has been booked for alleged sexual harassment, extortion, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and under provisions of the Arms Act.
Demonstrators shouted slogans and demanded strict action against Biswas at New Alipore police station in south-west Kolkata, where he was taken after his arrest on Thursday night.
Some protesters alleged that he had exercised undue influence in the film and television industry for years and extorted money from artists, technicians and other workers by promising jobs.
His elder brother, Aroop Biswas, was the sports minister in the Mamata Banerjee government.
