TMC Faces Legal Turmoil as ED Raids and CID Summons Abhishek Banerjee
TMC Encounters Legal Challenges
Saturday proved to be a tumultuous day for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. Law enforcement officials conducted a raid at the Kolkata residence of Sumit Roy, the personal assistant to TMC's national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee. Concurrently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) targeted several locations associated with prominent TMC legislator Madan Mitra.
According to reports, officers from the Shalboni police station collaborated with Kolkata police to execute the search operation early in the morning. After completing their investigation, the police team departed from the premises.
Mamata Banerjee Visits Abhishek's Residence
During this unfolding situation, former Chief Minister of West Bengal and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee arrived at Abhishek Banerjee's home. Sources indicate that the raid is linked to allegations claiming that Roy solicited money from individuals by promising them election tickets. The police are reportedly probing these claims and are actively searching for Roy.
As of now, neither Abhishek Banerjee nor his office has issued any official statement regarding these allegations.
CID Issues Summons to Abhishek Banerjee
Earlier on Friday, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) sent a notice to Banerjee, requesting his appearance before investigators on June 16. This inquiry pertains to allegedly incendiary remarks made during election campaigning. A CID team had visited Banerjee's residence in Kolkata to deliver the notice, but he was not present at the time.
Family members and office staff reported that Banerjee was attending a meeting at TMC leader Mamata Banerjee's house, located nearby. CID officials waited for nearly two hours before ultimately handing the notice to a staff member at his office.
A senior police official confirmed, "A formal notice has been issued as part of the ongoing investigation. He has been instructed to appear before the investigators on June 16." This case stems from a complaint regarding comments allegedly made by Banerjee during the election campaign, initially filed at the Baguiati police station before being transferred to the CID after an investigation by the Bidhannagar police's cybercrime unit.
ED Conducts Raids on Madan Mitra's Properties
On Saturday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) executed searches at multiple locations linked to TMC legislator Madan Mitra as part of an ongoing investigation. Sources indicate that ED officials raided eight sites, including Mitra's residences in Bhawanipur, North 24 Parganas' Kamrahati, and South 24 Parganas' Joka.
This search operation is reportedly connected to an alleged municipal recruitment scam. The searches are still in progress, and further updates are awaited.