Two central investigating agencies—CBI and ED—have tightened the noose around many West Bengal officials and public representatives in connection with the coal and cattle smuggling cases.
According to internal sources with the probe agencies, at least 15 deputy superintendents of police officers, six top IPS officers of the state and six MLAs are under the scanner. “Preparation is on to execute orders from senior officers in Delhi who interrogated the top IPS officers,” said an ED official in Kolkata. An IPS officer of the additional director general rank refused to appear before the ED after being summoned, sources said.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged this was nothing but a pressure tactic by the BJP to destabilise the government. “This is a clear stand taken by the BJP to put senior leaders of the Trinamool Congress in jail. They have been openly saying that December would be the most disastrous time for Mamata Banerjee. We are not frightened,” said a cabinet minister.
BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh, said: “Such actions, if at all they happen, are long overdue. We have no idea about the course of action of the central agency. Everybody knows what TMC ministers, leaders and officers did to they common people and how they should be brought to justice.”
Over the last few months, the six top IPS officers were summoned to appear before the agencies in Delhi. ED sources confirmed that the agency has found proof of the senior police officers' money transactions.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata left for Delhi on Monday to attend the all-party meeting ahead of the G20 summit. She is all set to visit Rajasthan’s Ajmer Sharif and holy Pushkar Lake to offer prayers. The CM, however, ruled out a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
