Income Tax Raids Target TMC Figures in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee Slams BJP
In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, income tax officials conducted raids on Friday targeting two key figures associated with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Kolkata. The raids focused on Miraj Shah, who served as the poll nomination proposer for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Debashis Kumar, a TMC candidate seeking re-election.
Raids Mark Pre-Poll Showdown
The I-T raids unfolded less than a week before West Bengal is set to vote in the first phase of elections on April 23, intensifying the ongoing face-off between the central government and the Banerjee-led TMC administration. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee swiftly condemned the actions, branding the BJP as "spineless cowards" and accusing them of engaging in a "shameless and brazen act."
"BJP will have to answer for this. You cannot play a dirty game. Ballots, not bullets, win polls," Banerjee declared, emphasizing her belief that the raids were a tactic by those who "cannot fight from the front."
Details of the Raids
The operations began early in the morning, with one team raiding the Elgin Road residence of businessman Miraj Shah. Shah, a trustee of one of the state's largest private educational institutions, had proposed Banerjee's nomination in the Bhowanipore constituency. However, the more significant confrontation occurred at the home of Debashis Kumar, the TMC candidate from the high-profile Rashbehari constituency.
At approximately 5 a.m., I-T officers, accompanied by central force personnel, arrived at Kumar's Manoharpukur Road residence. According to local residents, the jawans jumped over a locked gate to gain access and knock on the door. The officials then initiated a search-and-interrogation session that lasted nearly 15 hours, concluding around 8 p.m.
Widespread Search Operations
The raids were extensive, involving multiple teams across various locations:
- One team thoroughly searched Kumar's home.
- Another team targeted his election office, located just a few meters away.
- A third team visited his mother-in-law's flat in the neighborhood.
- A fourth team reached a nearby TMC office.
- A fifth team raided the house of Kumar Saha, a close associate of the candidate.
During the operation, a lawyer attempting to enter Kumar's house was denied entry. Additionally, Kumar's agent, Rakesh Kamath, who arrived to collect documents for a Friday deadline on poll-related expenditure submissions, was also stopped. This led to protests by TMC workers, with local residents joining in by noon, creating a tense atmosphere.
Reactions and Aftermath
Debashis Kumar, after the I-T team departed, expressed uncertainty about the findings but remained defiant. "I don't know what they found. All I know is I lost a day of campaigning. The outcome of these raids will be known on May 4. This will only help me," he stated. Kumar has previously been questioned twice by the Enforcement Directorate in a land grab and illegal construction case.
Sensing the escalating tension, Kumar instructed his supporters to avoid trouble. His childhood friend, Jayanta Manna, voiced strong support, saying, "The I-T officers have the right to interrogate politicians, not harass them. I won't leave till Kumar is freed from their clutches." Neighbors, including model Supriti Maitra, echoed sentiments of harassment, waiting for the officials to exit and criticizing the actions as undue pressure.
This incident underscores the heightened political climate in West Bengal as election day approaches, with both sides digging in for a fierce electoral battle.
