Kolkata: Parking mafia tipped off before civic body-cop raid
Times of India | 3 June 2025
12 Kolkata: A high-level inspection of many car parking zones in and around Burrabazar to probe complaints of alleged fleecing of motorists by the attendants turned futile on Monday. The inspection team, led by member, Mayor-in-Council overseeing the KMC car parking department, Debasish Kumar, comprised cops and civic officials. Cops claimed that the inspection failed to reveal any "systematic malaise." No anomalies were spotted, sources said. Apparently, such attendants ‘at fault' had prior information of the special visit. Kumar had agreed to conduct a special drive in Burrabazar, where ‘parking mafias' call the shots, after repeated complaints from BJP councillors like Meenadevi Purohit and Vijay Ojha. These councillors had pointed out the existence of a mafia raj in KK Tagore Street, Kalakar Street, Posta, Rabindra Sarani, and on Strand Road, among other places. Even Kumar expressed surprise over the change of atmosphere in the parking lots. Kumar said he would make a surprise visit again.Earlier, cops had found most parking violations in Dalhousie and Burrabazar.