Interacting with mediapersons in Gangasagar of South 24 Parganas district, the DGP, who spoke for the first time on the incident, said, “A strong action will be taken against those who took the law into their hands. A comprehensive inquiry will be initiated against those who broke the law.”
Meanwhile, the ED in a press statement issued on Monday said the state police registered a case only under bailable and non-scheduled offences in the Sandeshkhali incident and has not provided it with a copy of the FIR.
“…A police complaint was filed for registering an FIR under Sections 307, 333, 326, 353, 392, 395, 397, 149, 148, 186, 189, 426, 435, 440, 341 & 342 r/w (read with) Sections 120-B, 109 and 115 of the Indian Penal Code. But the police registered the FIR under sections 147, 148, 149, 341, 186, 353, 323, 427, 379, 504, 34 (mostly bailable and non-scheduled offences). A copy of the FIR has not been shared with the directorate,” the agency said.
The central agency further said a copy of the FIR is also awaited in a similar incident that happened with its team the same day (January 5 night) when a crowd attacked its officials during the arrest of TMC leader Shankar Adhya in Simultala Bongaon of North 24 Parganas district in connection with the alleged ration scam despite the local police being informed of the action.
Adhya, the Bongaon Municipality’s former chairman, was produced in a court which granted his ED custody for 14 days.
The ED alleged that the magnitude of the ration “scam” was “enormous” and proceeds of crime transferred by a suspect amounted to Rs 9,000-10,000 crore, of which Rs 2,000 crore is suspected to be transferred to Dubai directly or through Bangladesh.
“During the investigation, searches were conducted at various full-fledged money changers (FFMCs) and associated persons on January 5 and relevant evidence was seized during the search,” it said.
Also, the ED has submitted a report to its headquarters about the attack on its team last Friday. Sources said the two-page report mentions minute details of the incident along with videos and media reports.
The Trinamool Congress on Monday raised questions on including an ED official, who was previously booked by the CBI, in the ration scam investigation. “The Centre and the ED must clarify how an officer named in a CBI case can be allowed to carry out an investigation,” asked TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.
State Education Minister Bratya Basu said in a social media post, “Unmasking BJP’s deceit! Rajkumar Ram, recently in the eye of the storm in Sandeshkhali, was accused of accumulating disproportionate assets more than a year ago. How can @BJP4India trust an accused with illegal assets to lead an investigation? Accountability is long overdue!”
Rajkumar Ram was one of the three ED officers who were injured in the recent attack.
Countering the TMC charges, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said, “What the CBI had done previously (against the ED officer) is a separate issue. Does that give anyone the right to assault ED officials who are undertaking search operations? There can be allegations against any ED official. In that regard, there are several allegations and corruption charges against a large number of TMC leaders. Does that mean the people of the state will take the law in their hands and beat up arrested state ministers?”