The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday began raids simultaneously at the property of West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose, TMC MLA Taps Roy and Councilor Subodh Chakraborty in relation to the alleged cash for jobs at different civic bodies, official sources said.
The ED officials, aided by the Central armed forces, began raids from early on Friday at two properties of Bose, West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Minister, at Lake Town in North 24 Pargana, TMC MLA Tapas Roy’s residence and office (on B B Ganguly Street) at Bowbazar in
central part of the city and former North Dum Dum municipality chairman Subodh Chakraborty’s
property at Birati, also in N 24 Parganas, sources said.
Besides the search operations, the ED interrogated the politicians and their immediate relatives during the raids.
Roy is the MLA representing Baranagar and also one of the spokespersons of the state ruling TMC.
The simultaneous raids to the politician’s property happened exactly two days after ED Director Rahul Naveen visited the state and held some high-level meetings with some central probe agencies following attacks on ED officials at Sandeshkhali in N 24 Parganas on January 5.
The ED Director also called on Governor C V Ananda Bose at his Raj Bhawan office on January 10.
The current raids are of the ED’s investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitments within different civic bodies across the state, sources added.
This time the CRPF jawans, which accompanied the central probe agency, were equipped with kits like helmet, shield, arms and lady personnel.
The CRPF jawans were manhandled, along with the ED officials, when they went for a raid at TMC leader Sahjahan Sheikh house at Sandeshkhali in N 24 Parganas on Friday last.
The ED had to abandon the raids in relation to the alleged ration scam and run for life after its three officials sustained wounds.
Sheikh since then has been evading arrest despite the ED has issued a lookout notice for the fugitive.
