Howrah, Sept. 7: Trinamul has show-caused two Howrah councillors following complaints of extortion by real estate promoters, the party's action a first of sorts in its 17-year history.

Arup Roy, the agri-marketing minister and Howrah district Trinamul president, said councillors Sabitri Devi Shaw of ward I and Saurav Das of ward 24 were told to send their replies in a week. "After receiving the complaints, an internal probe was carried out and the complaints were found to be true. If the party is dissatisfied with their replies, further action would be taken," Roy said.

Further action could mean suspension or expulsion from the party, said a Trinamul veteran, adding that he could not recall an instance when the party took action against any leader on the charge of extortion.

Trinamul sources in Howrah said some party leaders had also complained against the two councillors. "Six months back, Arupda had publicly rebuked Das and told him to mend his ways," said a Trinamul source.

Shaw said the complaints against her were false, while Das said that nobody in the party had told him about a show-cause notice against him.

An allegation of extortion against a Trinamul leader is not new. Since the change of guard in Bengal in 2011, similar charges have been levelled against several party leaders across the state who have gained a stranglehold on the real estate business - a cash cow for the party.

A senior Trinamul minister said: "In our party, action is usually taken against those who are expendable. The big fish always escape. Seats will fall vacant in the Calcutta Municipal Corporation if similar action is taken here."

Trinamul sources said the upcoming by-elections in Bally, a municipality being merged with the Howrah Municipal Corporation, could be a reason for the party's move to show-cause the two councillors to project a clean image.

In the past, action was taken against Trinamul leaders for alleged anti-party activities, such as the suspension of Rajya Sabha member Kunal Ghosh and former MLA Shikha Mitra. Bhangar strongman Arabul Islam's name figured in a murder case as did CMC councillor Shambhu Nath Kow's, necessitating their expulsion.