CBI raids multiple locations in Bengal, house of TMC MLA

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched raids and search operations from Thursday morning at the residences of several Trinamool leaders, including a party MLA in Murshidabad and two Municipal councillors, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah came to Bengal and trained guns against the Mamata Banerjee government for its large-scale corruption in the state.

The CBI has conducted marathon raids across the state, including multiple locations in Kolkata and Murshidabad, in connection with the ongoing recruitment scam. Raids were conducted by the central agency in Kolkata's Patuli, Dumdum Park and Teghoria. They visited other locations in Coochbehar, Murshidabad's Domkal and Barwan, sources said.

Trinamool MLA Jafikul Islam’s residence and BEd and DElEd colleges run by him, were also raided. Islam's house was raided and a huge amount cash was allegedly recovered from his house. Counting is still on, people in the know said.


Trinamool MLA Jafiqul Islam said, "I am not involved in any recruitment scam. I am in Kolkata as the assembly session is going on. My family members are in Domkal and I have urged them to cooperate with the CBI."

Islam reportedly owns multiple private colleges BEd and DElEd training in Murshidabad’s education hub in Domkal, sources claimed.
Apart from raids in the residences and colleges of Islam in Murshidabad district, Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillor Bappadittya Dasgupta and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation councillor Debraj Chakraborty residences were also raided. However, raids and search operations continued in these premises for around six hours.

Raids in all the premises continued amid tight security of central paramilitary forces. “A seven-member CBI team had come to my residence. I was not at home. They had brought a search warrant. They have not received anything after the search operations. They have given me the search list while leaving.” said Debraj Chakraborty Mayor-in Council of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation.

In the last one and a half years, heavyweight Trinamool leaders, former education minister Partha Chatterjee, MLA and former president of the state primary education board Manik Bhattacharya and MLA Jiban Krishna Saha have been arrested by the central agencies.

Responding to the raids, BJP state President Sukanta Majumdar said, “The court has ordered prompt investigations to the central agency.”

BJP Chief spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya said, “The whole education sector has turned into a vicious system. It is not about a MLA or two but the entire Trinamool party is involved in the process.”