Jagran Correspondent, Kolkata: A large contingent of the Shalbani police and Kolkata police raided the Kalighat residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in the early hours of Saturday. As per the reports, a huge drama unfolded as the police broke the lock and entered into the house after receiving no response for several minutes. The central security forces had cordoned off the entire area as the raid continued for at least five hours.
The action was taken after a local TMC leader in Shalbani accused Sumit Roy, Banerjee's personal assistant (PA), of demanding money in exchange for a ticket for the West Bengal Assembly election. As per the reports, the police arrived at Abhishek's home at 3 am and conducted a thorough search for nearly five hours after tracking mobile tower locations.
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The matter escalated after former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, upon receiving information about the raid, drove directly to Abhishek's home on Saturday morning. While reacting to the incident, Abhishek Banerjee stated that the police broke the lock despite his cooperation. The TMC MP further stated that he has the recording of the raid, adding that the police found nothing at his residence.
"The police broke the lock and searched the entire house. We have all the recordings and have fully cooperated with the investigation," Banerjee stated. Earlier on Thursday, the CID interrogated him for five and a half hours in the forged signature case, and he is scheduled to appear again on Sunday.
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Apart from this, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned the Diamond Harbour MP in the primary recruitment scam on Monday. He is also scheduled to appear before the CID in the threats case on June 16. The legal action is likely to add troubles for Abhishek Banerjee amid the ongoing rebellion in the TMC following the defeat in the assembly polls.