Enforcement Directorate officers conducted raids at two residences of Sujit Bose in the Lake Town area in North 24 Parganas district early on Friday. Additionally, TMC MLA Tapas Roy’s B.B.Ganguly Street (Bowbazar) residence and former North Dumdum Municipality chairman Subodh Chakraborty’s residence in Birati were also raided by officials of the federal body. These are in connection with its probe into the irregularities in recruitments made in civic bodies. Sujit Bose is the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Minister in the West Bengal government.
Search Operations On At Residences Of Three TMC Leaders
“We are conducting search operations at the residences of three TMC leaders in connection with the recruitments in civic bodies. We are also talking to the leaders,” an ED official told sources. Police personnel from local police stations reached the respective locations of operations and cordoned off the entire area.
ED officials initially faced resistance in entering Mr. Bose’s residence and after around 40 minutes they were allowed inside, the source said. “We are carrying a search warrant and despite showing that we were initially not allowed to enter,” the officer said.
The Central forces accompanying the officials were equipped with extra protection gear like automatic guns and helmets. As per the ED officer, this was done keeping in mind the assault on them last week during the raid at Sandeshkhali. On January 5, three officials of the Enforcement Directorate were assaulted, their mobiles snatched away, and their vehicles allegedly damaged by supporters of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh.
Leaders Voice Their Opinions On The Continued Searches
Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, “This is an attempt to divert the public and media’s attention from various burning issues. The BJP appears to be sensing growing public discontent. They are using all means at their disposal to change the narrative. It is a clear example of vendetta politics.”
BJP leader Rahul Sinha said, “Whenever the ED or CBI raid TMC leaders, they cry foul and accuse it of being politically motivated. The reality is TMC is deep in corruption, and nearly every leader is facing corruption allegations.”
Bengali