The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids at different locations including house of Trinamool Congress (TMC) minister Sujit Bose, TMC MLA Tapas Ray and the house of former North Dumdum Municipality chairman Subodh Chakravorty in connection to irregularities in civic body recruitment.
Taking queue from the attack on ED officials, the CRPF jawans took extra protection and carried batons, wore helmets and also carried tear gas shells along with guns while conducting the raid.
Details of the raids
After reaching Lake Town in North 24 parganas to conduct raids at Sujit Bose's houses at almost 6:30 am on Friday morning, the central forces were seen clearing the common people and conducting route marches for area domination just as they did during the election.
Bose's ancestral house along with the house he stays and his office were raided by the central agency.
After 14 and a half hours ED left Sujit Bose' s house.
Talking to the media, Bose said,''I have heard that Suvendu Adhikari has asked us to pack our bags. He should stand in front of the mirror and look at himself. The day if anyone says that I have taken money from anyone then I will send my resignation. We all have cooperated with the probe. I am a minister but the ED has taken away my mobile phone and a few documents as well. I would urge the central agency to return the phone as it will be a problem for me to run the department. I've been doing politics for the last 45 years. We will fight back politically."
TMC MLA Tapas Ray whose house in central Kolkata was also raided for 12 hours said that he has never been part of any corruption.
"I don't know whose house has been raided as I was busy the entire day with ED officers in my house. I have never been a part of any corruption. Just because I am a politician my family members were also harassed due to that. They have taken some papers and one of my mobile," said Ray.
Former Municipal chairman of North Dum Dum Municipality Subodh Chakravorty's house was also raided for nearly 12 hours.
Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Legislative Assembly Suvendu Adhikari hinted towards arrest of alleged corrupt leader of TMC.
"Today is Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary and on this auspicious day the ED officials are conducting raids. Time for them to pack their bags and they should also keep some winter garments with them," mentioned Adhikari.
'Political vendetta of BJP in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections'
TMC minister Shashi Panja however termed the raids as 'political vendetta of BJP in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections'.
According to the central agency sources, the plan for raids were done on the day when ED incharge director Rahul Navin came to Kolkata and held closed door meetings at ED headquarters in Kolkata.
