The Bidhannagar Police have arrested a local Trinamool Congress block president, Sajal Sarkar, in connection with the murder of jeweller Swapan Kamillya, whose body was found near a canal in New Town’s Jatragachi area on October 29.

This is the third arrest in the case.   Sarkar was arrested from Siliguri on Wednesday after his name allegedly surfaced during the interrogation of the two previously arrested accused: Raju Dhali and Tufan Thapa.

According to Kamillya’s  family, a day before the body was recovered, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Rajganj, Prashanta Burman, was allegedly present when Kamillya and his landlord were allegedly forcibly taken away in a car from the jewellery shop.

However, the BDO has denied any involvement, claiming he is being falsely implicated as he had “taken steps against corruption”.

One of the arrested accused, Dhali, was allegedly a driver who operated Burman’s car, and another, Tufan Thapa, a contractor, was allegedly Burman’s close associate. The probe has now been handed over to the Bidhannagar Detective Department.