Heavy security was seen deployed at TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee's residence in Kolkata on Saturday morning as police searched for his personal assistant Sumit Roy.
According to reports, officers from Shalboni Police Station, accompanied by personnel from the Kolkata Police, carried out the search operation early in the morning. The police team left the premises after completing the search.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee also arrived at Abhishek Banerjee's residence during the course of the developments.
Sources said the search was linked to allegations that Roy had accepted money from individuals in exchange for promising party election tickets. Police are reportedly investigating the claims and searching for Roy in connection with the case.
Abhishek reacts to searches
In a fierce reaction to pre-dawn searches at his house, Abhishek said his house was locked when the police arrived, they broke open the locks and conducted searches and left.
"My whole residence has been searched, whether I have kept him or not, go and ask the investigative agency," he said.
CID summons Abhishek Banerjee
Earlier on Friday, the CID served a notice to Banerjee, asking him to appear before investigators on June 16 in connection with a case linked to an alleged provocative statement made during election campaigning. A CID team visited Banerjee's residence in Kolkata on Friday afternoon to personally deliver the notice. However, the Diamond Harbour MP was not present when the officers arrived.
According to family members and office staff, Banerjee had gone to attend a meeting at the residence of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, located in a nearby lane.
The CID officers waited for nearly two hours before making another attempt to serve the notice directly. As Banerjee did not meet the investigators, the notice was eventually handed over to an employee at his office.
"A notice has been duly served as part of the ongoing investigation. He has been directed to appear before the investigating officers on June 16," a senior police officer said.
The case relates to a complaint filed over remarks allegedly made by Banerjee during election campaigning. The complaint was initially registered at Baguiati Police Station and was later investigated by the Cyber Crime Police Station under the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate before being transferred to the CID.
ED raids on Madan Mitra
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday conducted searches at multiple locations linked to Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra in and around Kolkata as part of an ongoing investigation.
According to sources, ED officials carried out raids at eight locations, including Mitra's residences in Bhawanipur in Kolkata, Kamarhati in North 24 Parganas, and Joka in South 24 Parganas.
Sources said the search operation is linked to the alleged municipal recruitment scam. Further details are awaited as the searches continue.
Also read: Abhishek Banerjee responds to Kalyan Banerjee's 'arrogant' remark
