New Delhi/Kolkata:
The CBI as we speak raided round 40 premises throughout three states, together with 25 in West Bengal, as a part of an investigation right into a coal mafia case.
It’s in West Bengal that Anup Majhi, the alleged kingpin of the unlawful operation, is predicated, sources stated. The house and workplaces of the suspect, who lives in Asansol, are being searched together with these of his associates.
The opposite two states the place the raids are on or might start shortly are Jharkhand and Bihar.
In West Bengal, moreover Asansol and different spots, searches are on in Durgapur, Raniganj in Burdwan district, and Bishnupur within the South 24 Parganas district.
The company has registered a case for alleged unlawful mining and theft of coal from the Kunustoria and Kajoria coal fields of Japanese Coalfield Restricted.
Mr Majhi, often known as Lala, allegedly runs an operation in open forged coal mines alongside the Bengal-Jharkhand border.
The revenue tax division was investigating him and had served noticec on him earlier this month, across the similar time when Union Dwelling Minister Amit Shah was on a two day go to to Kolkata. In response to a query at a press meet, Mr Shah requested, “Why is Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee so involved about raids towards ‘Lala’?”
Earlier, Ms Banerjee had remarked at a press meet concerning the raids by central companies in West Bengal coinciding with the Dwelling Minister’s go to.
Funds from the coal racket, sources say, could also be reaching some political events within the state.
The CBI has additionally cracked down on a cattle smuggling case in West Bengal through which the alleged kingpin, Enamul Haq, a resident of Murshidabad district, has been arrested. He’s on interim bail after testing optimistic for COVID-19. A Border Safety Power officer linked to cattle smuggling was additionally arrested quickly after.
Beneath the scanner is a doable linked between the cattle-smuggling and coal rackets.
These raids come months earlier than elections to the 294-member West Bengal Meeting are held in April-Might subsequent 12 months. After having a restricted presence within the politically polarised state for many years, the BJP has emerged as the principle rival of the ruling Trinamool Congress by profitable 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal within the 2019 basic elections.
