ED Raids & Anubrata Mondal ‘Trust’ Factor: More Trouble Ahead for TMC in West Bengal’s Cattle Scam

Last Updated: March 09, 2024, 08:00 IST

Trouble seems to be brewing for a section of senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a series of fresh attachments and raids in connection with the cattle scam in West Bengal over new details.

The ED had earlier this week seized documents and attached the related bank accounts of a trust in Birbhum. The trust is allegedly associated with senior TMC leader Anubrata Mondal, who was arrested in connection with the scam. The ED is now in the process of issuing fresh summons to some senior leaders, while some who already appeared would be called again, News18 has learnt.

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According to sources in the agency, the investigators have found money trails of senior Trinamool leaders and their alleged connections with some hawala operators.

“During the course of investigation, we stumbled upon some new details, which led us to new money trails. We have already attached the bank accounts of a trust, based out of Birbhum, and is associated with Mondal," said a senior officer in the directorate.

“We have also identified the person in whose name the trust was set up. We have identified some more benami properties," he added.

BENAMI TRUST AND POLITICAL FUNDING

The raided trust siphoned off crores of rupees, violated rules and failed in compliances, said sources.

“Mondal, his aides and some senior politicians raised public money in the name of the trust, siphoned the money and used it as political funding," said another officer.

Search operations are likely to take place across districts in connection with the case. The officers further added that the ED may also issue fresh summons to some senior politicians and some government officers.