A construction promoter in Kolkata’s Posta area has filed an extortion complaint after allegedly receiving repeated WhatsApp calls and demands for subscription money, or chanda, linked to Kali Puja, Diwali and Jagatdhatri Puja, with Posta police beginning an investigation.
According to police sources, the alleged harassment took place between October 20 and October 25 while the complainant was at his office on Burtalla Street. The caller or callers allegedly made 17 WhatsApp calls within five minutes on October 20, followed by four more calls the next afternoon.
The complainant later approached the police and shared the contact details used for making the calls. Police said the identity and other details of the accused are being verified, while electronic records and call logs are being examined as part of the inquiry.
The complaint places festival-related collection demands within a construction and redevelopment setting in one of Kolkata’s older commercial areas. The police investigation will determine whether the calls amounted to criminal extortion and identify the persons who allegedly made them.
Before Durga Puja, Kolkata Police had shared a WhatsApp number and a separate 24×7 toll-free helpline for residents to report such incidents. Officials said the reporting channels are likely to remain active during Kali Puja and Jagatdhatri Puja as well.
The Posta police inquiry is continuing, with verification of the contact details and examination of call records forming the next steps.
