Mamata cries foul as I-T targets TMC members

The Income-Tax (IT) Department on Friday searched the premises of several Trinamool Congress (TMC) members, including a key candidate for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections and a proposer of Mamata Banerjee’s candidature, triggering sharp reaction from chief minister ‘Mamata Banerjee who questioned the timing of the raids ahead of the voting on April 23 and 29.

- HT Correspondent

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.

“Searches are going on,” a police officer said in the morning, referring to Kumar's residence on Padmapukur Road. Kumar's office in Ballygunge area was also searched. The residence of another TMC leader, Kumar Saha, was searched in South Kolkata.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had last week questioned Kumar twice in a separate alleged land-grabbing case. It searched at least five locations related to a leading real estate group in Kolkata and Salt Lake.