In a recent development, West Bengal police apprehended two individuals, Mehaboob Mollah and Sukomal Sardar, in connection with the assault on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team during a raid at the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district. The arrest follows a detailed examination of video footage capturing the attack.
Presented before a court, Mollah and Sardar were remanded to three-day police custody, as confirmed by Basirhat SP Joby Thomas. The ED had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the state police's handling of the incident, alleging non-provision of a copy of the complaint and the filing of a suo motu case against its officers for alleged offenses.
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Amidst the legal clash, Sheikh's family filed a complaint, claiming the ED raided their home without prior notice and forcibly entered by breaking locks. The ED, in turn, issued a lookout notice for Sheikh, expressing concerns about a potential attempt to flee the country following the assault. The probe agency also filed a complaint against Sheikh and his supporters for assaulting its officers.
The incident unfolded on January 5 when the ED team arrived to investigate TMC leaders Sheikh and Shankar Adhya, along with their relatives, regarding an alleged ration scam. A confrontation ensued, resulting in injuries to three ED officials and damage to their vehicles. Sheikh, a close aide of arrested state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, remains at large.
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The ED has raised serious allegations, citing an "enormous" ration distribution scam with suspected proceeds of crime amounting to ₹9,000-10,000 crore, with ₹2,000 crore potentially transferred to Dubai directly or through Bangladesh.
