The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) executed searches on Saturday at multiple locations associated with Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra, including her parent’s residence in Kolkata, as part of an investigation into the cash-for-query scam, officials revealed.
Mahua Moitra, who was ousted from the Lok Sabha in December last year, has been nominated by the TMC to contest from the Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
CBI is conducting searches at TMC leader Mahua Moitra's residences and other places in Kolkata and other places in connection with the alleged cash for query case. pic.twitter.com/XQm6lXUC6R
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CBI raids Mahua Moitra’s Part Office in Cash-for-Query
In addition to Moitra’s parent’s home, a search operation was conducted at her party office in Krishnanagar later. Despite repeated attempts, Moitra remained unreachable for comment.
“The CBI conducted searches at locations associated with the former MP, including a flat in south Kolkata,” stated a CBI official.
Security personnel stationed at the Ratnabali apartment in Alipore, south Kolkata, affirmed that the flat belonged to DL Moitra, the father of the TMC leader. The search commenced early in the morning, according to reports.
TMC accuse BJP of Political Vendetta
“This is nothing but political vendetta. Elections have been announced, and I lost two days because of the raid on my house. If the BJP is so sure of crossing the 400 mark, why are they resorting to such tactics,” expressed Jui Biswas, wife of Swarup Biswas and a ward councilor in the TMC-administered Kolkata civic body, to the media.
The CBI’s actions came just a day following a prolonged search conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at the residence of Chandranath Sinha, the state MSME and textile minister, during which he was also interrogated. Sources familiar with the situation revealed that approximately Rs. 41 lakh was seized from Sinha’s Bolpur, Birbhum district residence.
Also Read – Mahua Moitra Expelled From Parliament Over Bribery Row
In a separate occurrence, Income Tax (IT) officials embarked on a search at the house of Swarup Biswas, a TMC leader and the sibling of state minister Aroop Biswas, for approximately 71 hours starting Wednesday morning. The federal agency has summoned Swarup for further interrogation.
The CBI initiated an investigation against Mahua Moitra in connection with the alleged cash-for-query scandal on Thursday, based on a report from the Lokpal. The Lokpal directed the CBI to probe the accusations and submit a report within six months, with monthly progress reports also mandated.
The former MP stands accused of receiving bribes from Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for raising his concerns in Parliament. Furthermore, she is accused of sharing her parliamentary login credentials with the businessman. Moitra has consistently refuted all allegations.
