West Bengal elections: Income Tax Dept raids premises linked to TMC Candidate, Banerjee's proposer

Kolkata: The Income-Tax Department on Friday conducted raids at the residence of Miraj Shah who had proposed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's name in her nomination papers. The I-T department also conducted raids at Trinamool Congress sitting MLA and candidate from Rashbehari assembly constituency, Debasish Kumar's residence, his relative's house, the party's election office and the councillor's office, in connection with an alleged illegal land grabbing case in West Bengal since Friday morning.

The Income-Tax department team, accompanied by CAPF, reached Shah and Kumar's residences early in the morning at Manohar Pukur Road in South Kolkata. Another team reached his electoral camp office and Councillor office at around 6.30 am and started conducting simultaneous raid and search operations.

Miraj Shah's Elgin Road residence in south Kolkata was searched. Shah is known to be associated with a local educational institution. The I-T Department also conducted raids at Kumar's residence. Kumar is also the Mayor-in-Council of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Trinamool Congress candidate from Rashbehari assembly constituency. BJP candidate Swapan Dasguopta is contesting the Rashbehari seat against Kumar.


Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate, Kolkata, is conducting searches under PMLA in connection with its ongoing investigation into the Merlin Group on the premises of three businessmen in Kolkata and North 24 Parganas districts.

Mamata Slams ECI Over Security Cut

Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee slammed the ECI for withdrawing security for Trinamool leaders while keeping the same for BJP leaders.

Banerjee's comments come at a time when the ECI has given a Friday evening deadline to West Bengal Chief Secretary to withdraw government-provided security cover for private individuals (categorised & non-categorised protectees) from Bengal as the state heads to polls on April 23 and April 29.

The ECI has flagged acute dearth of state police personnel available for booth-level deployment as the reason for this. Speaking at a poll rally in Cooch Behar, Banerjee said, "Have you withdrawn the security of BJP leaders? Every other leader is moving around with 'Z' category security" and doing 'goondaism' with CAPF. But their security is not removed."