Cafe linked to TMC leader demolished in Bengal for being built on encroached land

Kolkata,UPDATED: Jul 2, 2026 14:20 IST

A cafe allegedly built on encroached land and linked to the son of TMC leader Saokat Molla was demolished in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Thursday, officials said.

According to the administration, the structure, identified as Aranayer Kule in the Canning area, was not removed by the owner's family despite repeated notices. Officials said the cafe was built illegally on the char of the Matla river.

An official said the cafe was allegedly run by Imran Molla, son of former TMC MLA Saokat Molla. The district administration had asked the owner to remove the structure by June 29 and had warned that demolition would follow if the order was not complied with.

"While furniture was seen being removed from the cafe after the notices, the structure itself was not demolished within the stipulated time, prompting the administration to step in," the official said. A large contingent of police personnel and central forces was deployed outside the cafe during the exercise, he said.

A district official who supervised the demolition said the structure had come up illegally on government land.

"A complaint was received regarding this. After a hearing, the owner was given time to remove the structure. Since he failed to act within the period, the demolition was carried out following government norms," he added.

Officials said the issue came to light after local media reported on the allegedly illegal cafe, following which the administration examined land documents and ordered the demolition. Members of Molla's family could not be reached for comment.

The administration said the cafe in Canning was demolished after the owner failed to remove it within the deadline, with officials maintaining that it had been built illegally on government land along the Matla river.

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