The central agency has asked the absconding Trinamool leader to appear before it for questioning on Monday. The agency had earlier summoned him on January 29 and February 7.

On January 5, a team of ED officials was attacked by over a hundred villagers in North 24 Parganas’ Sandeshkhali where they had gone to raid Sheikh’s residence as part of their probe into the ration ‘scam’. Three ED officers were injured in the attack. The TMC strongman has been on the run since then.

In January, ED assistant director Prashant Chandila had issued summons to Sheikh to appear before the agency on January 29 for questioning. However, he skipped the summons. He ducked ED’s summons for the second time on February 7. Sheikh’s lawyer had tried to submit a letter to the agency seeking more time, however, the ED didn’t accept it.

Following the incident, the state police had filed three FIRs in the case.

Sheikh, who is also a TMC block president, is considered close to state minister Jyoti Priya Mullick who was arrested last year by the central investigative agency over alleged irregularities in the public distribution system in the state.

Mullick held the food and supplies portfolio between 2011 and 2021.