ED questions TMC MLA in Kolkata land-grabbing case; I-T raids home, poll office ahead of Bengal vote

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into Trinamool Congress MLA Debasish Kumar in an alleged land-grabbing and illegal construction case in Kolkata, questioning him multiple times while the Income Tax Department conducted raids at his residence and election office on Friday.Kumar, who is seeking re-election from the Rashbehari Assembly constituency in south Kolkata, was summoned by the ED on April 1, 3 and 9. He appeared before investigators at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake on all three occasions.Income Tax officials on Friday searched Kumar’s residence on Manoharpukur Road and his election office, with simultaneous operations beginning around 6 am.The ED investigation is linked to around 17 FIRs filed against a real estate firm accused of duping investors by promising high returns. Searches were earlier conducted on March 28 at the company’s office and residences of its officials, during which Kumar’s name allegedly surfaced.According to agency sources, investigators are examining allegations that a construction group encroached on land parcels across south Kolkata with alleged municipal assistance.Officials are probing whether businessman Amit Gangopadhyay and his associates obtained disputed property records, created forged documents for contested land parcels and sold them at inflated prices.Some of the properties under scrutiny are reportedly linked to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), where Kumar serves as Member-Mayor-in-Council (MMIC).Investigators have reportedly seized phone chats in which photographs and details of disputed land were allegedly shared with Kumar. The ED is also examining whether any money trail or financial transactions connect him to the deals.The agency is further probing the possible involvement of KMC employees and how information related to disputed properties was allegedly accessed.The Trinamool Congress accused the BJP-led Centre of using central agencies to target opposition leaders ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.“BJP is using the central investigating agency against our leaders before the upcoming polls. It is a political vendetta,” TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said.TMC state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar said the probe was politically motivated and alleged the BJP was misusing federal agencies before elections.Bengal BJP chief spokesperson Debjit Sarkar said, “Why is ED questioning Kumar and not you or me? TMC should stop making the same baseless allegation whenever there is an ED or CBI operation.”Voting in the Rashbehari constituency will take place in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.The searches triggered protests outside Kumar’s residence, where TMC workers raised slogans against the Centre. Central forces personnel were deployed to maintain law and order.