In a major development, police conducted a late-night search at the Kolkata residence of TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in connection with a land scam investigation.
According to reports, a team from Paschim Medinipur’s Salboni Police Station, assisted by Kolkata Police personnel, arrived at the residence around 2 am on Friday (June 12). The search was reportedly carried out after the arrest and questioning of former Medinipur MLA and district TMC president Sujoy Hazra.
The operation continued for more than four hours. During the search, personnel from Kalighat and Bhabanipur police stations assisted the investigation team, while central forces reportedly secured the surrounding area.
TMC leaders alleged that police personnel broke open a lock before entering the premises. Abhishek Banerjee also claimed that officers forcibly entered the residence and conducted a thorough search of the property.
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee was present at the residence during the police operation.
In a separate matter, Abhishek Banerjee has been summoned by the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for questioning on June 14 in a signature forgery case.
The CID has also issued a summons to senior TMC leader and MLA Kunal Ghosh.
Both leaders have been directed to appear before investigators at the agency’s Bhawani Bhawan headquarters in south Kolkata.
The investigation relates to alleged discrepancies in signatures on a document submitted to the West Bengal Assembly for the appointment of Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at seven premises linked to TMC MLA Madan Mitra as part of a money laundering investigation connected to an alleged municipality recruitment scam.
Officials said the searches were carried out to gather evidence regarding suspected irregularities in recruitment processes across several municipalities, including Kamarhati Municipality.
According to ED investigators, evidence collected during the probe suggests that Madan Mitra allegedly received bribes in the form of cash and gold through intermediaries in exchange for helping secure appointments for ineligible candidates to municipal posts.
During the searches, officials reportedly recovered cash and documents hidden underneath a bed at one of the premises. Investigators also found details of six bank accounts that are now under scrutiny.
ED officials further claimed that Madan Mitra is linked to 125 allegedly illegal appointments made through the recruitment process under investigation.
The agency stated that the raids are aimed at collecting additional evidence related to the alleged flow of money, recruitment procedures, and the role of intermediaries in facilitating appointments.
The latest investigations have come at a politically sensitive time for the Trinamool Congress. The party has been facing criticism and visible dissent from some MPs, MLAs, and senior leaders following its recent electoral defeat in West Bengal.
Several senior party figures have publicly questioned Abhishek Banerjee’s leadership, adding to the challenges facing the ruling party as multiple investigations continue.
