Multiple ED raids in Bengal, premises of several TMC leaders under the radar

Enforcement Directorate raids are currently underway at West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader Sujit Bose's Sreebhumi residence in Kolkata in connection to the alleged recruitment scam. In addition, residences of TMC spokesperson Tapas Roy and former North Dum Dum Municipality chairman Subodh Chakraborty are also being raided by the central agency.

The searches began as early as 6.40 am on Friday. Central forces have covered the area surrounding the houses of the TMC leaders. 

In April 2023, the Calcutta High Court had directed the CBI to probe the alleged irregularities in the recruitment at municipalities in the state.

The minister of state's fire and emergency services was summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last year in August in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment in the state's municipalities. Bose, however had denied having received any summon. He had then called it a conspiracy to target him. This is the first time when ED is raiding the house of the minister Sujit Bose and MLA Tapas Roy in connection with the case. The Bengal minister was earlier the vice-chairman of South Dum Dum Municipality from 2010 to 2021. More than 200 recruitment that happened during his tenure is under the scanner of the central agencies. 

ED teams reached the Boubazar house of TMC MLA Tapas Roy at around 6.40am on Friday. He is the MLA from Baranagar. Baranagar municipality is also under the scanner, the chairperson of the municipality has been examined by ED in November last year.

The raids come days after an Enforcement Directorate team was attacked ahead of carrying out searches at Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan's residence in Sandeshkali on January 5.