The Income-Tax (IT) Department searched the premises of several Trinamool Congress (TMC) members, including a key candidate for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, sparking a sharp reaction from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The raids were conducted on the premises of TMC MLA Debashish Kumar, who is contesting from Rashbehari assembly seat, and Miraj Shah, a proposer of Banerjee’s candidature from Bhabanipur constituency.
Mamata Banerjee questioned the timing of the raids ahead of the voting on April 23 and 29, while TMC spokesperson Jay Prakash Majumdar accused the central agencies of trying to intimidate the party.
Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rahul Sinha accused Kumar of receiving kickbacks for an illegal land deal, but TMC state vice-president Majumdar said the BJP was targeting Shah for proposing Banerjee’s candidature.
