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New Delhi/Kolkata:
The CBI’s anti-corruption department at present searched 25 areas in West Bengal in reference to a coal smuggling racket, allegedly led by in Asansol primarily based kingpin named Anup Majhi. Premised being raided embrace workplaces and houses of Mr Majhi’s associates in Asansol, Durgapur, and Raniganj in Burdwan district, in addition to Bishnupur in the South 24 Parganas district.
Some areas in Kolkata had been additionally being reportedly being searched however that has not been independently verified but.
Mr Majhi, also referred to as Lala, allegedly runs an operation in the open forged coal mines alongside the Bengal-Jharkhand border. His coal racket, sources mentioned, might have funded some political events in the state.
Three revenue tax notices had been served on Majhi earlier this month, although he solely acknowledged two. Around the identical time, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was visiting Kolkata. At a press meet on the finish of his go to, Mr Shah requested why Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was involved about raids in opposition to Mr Majhi.
Ms Banerjee herself questioned the coincidence of the searches and raids in West Bengal by 5 central companies with the Home Minister’s go to. Almost concurrently with the IT probe into Mr Majhi’s alleged racket, the CBI cracked down on a cattle smuggling case in the state in which the alleged kingpin was arrested, however launched on bail after testing COVID optimistic. A Border Security Force officer, too, was arrested in this connection.
Under the scanner is a attainable linked between the cattle-smuggling and coal rackets.
These raids come months earlier than elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are held in April-May subsequent yr. After having a restricted presence in the politically polarised state for many years, the BJP has emerged as the principle rival of the ruling Trinamool Congress by successful 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the 2019 normal elections.
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