Key Facts
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee faced a surprise police search at his Kalighat residence in Kolkata early Saturday morning. The operation began at 3 am and lasted four hours, with officers searching for his personal assistant Sumit Roy, who is wanted in a financial fraud case. The search team included personnel from Salboni Police Station (Paschim Medinipur) and Kolkata Police.
Details of the Search
According to sources, the police broke the locks to enter Banerjee's home. The assistant's phone had been traced to the residence, prompting the late-night raid. A video of Banerjee's exchange with reporters went viral, where he was seen losing his cool when asked about Roy's whereabouts. “I am not a representative of the investigative body. The answer will be given by those who have conducted the search,” he said in Bengali. He added, “My entire house has been searched, seek answer from officials investigating.”
Who is Sumit Roy?
Sumit Roy is Abhishek Banerjee's personal assistant and is wanted in connection with an ongoing investigation into a financial fraud case. His phone was last traced to Banerjee's Kalighat residence, which led to the search operation.
Political Reactions
Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rushed to her nephew's residence during the search. Party leaders condemned the action as political vendetta. MP Kirti Azad said, “This is the BJP's old modus operandi... They aren't interested in actually running the government. They will just keep doing these things…” TMC leader Sagarika Ghose tweeted, “No evidence. No wrongdoing. NOTHING. Just political vendetta, intimidation and mental torture.”
ED Raids on TMC MLA
Separately, the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at seven locations linked to TMC MLA and former minister Madan Mitra in connection with irregularities in civic recruitments.
Internal Crisis in TMC
Abhishek Banerjee has been facing dissent within the party, with several leaders questioning his leadership. The TMC is reportedly facing one of its biggest internal crises, with a possible split as rebel MPs and MLAs have united to form a separate faction.
FAQ
Why was Abhishek Banerjee's house searched?
Police were looking for his personal assistant Sumit Roy, who is wanted in a financial fraud case. Roy's phone was last traced to Banerjee's Kalighat residence.
Who led the search operation?
The search was led by a team from Paschim Medinipur's Salboni Police Station, assisted by Kolkata Police personnel.
What did Abhishek Banerjee say about the raid?
He said the police broke locks to enter his home and called it a political vendetta. He directed reporters to ask the investigating officials for details.
Did the Enforcement Directorate also conduct raids?
Yes, the ED raided seven locations linked to TMC MLA Madan Mitra in connection with civic recruitment irregularities.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com