Kolkata, 13 June (H.S.): The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday launched a series of searches across Kolkata and its adjoining areas as part of its investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment within municipal bodies in West Bengal. Simultaneous raids were conducted at six to seven locations, including properties linked to Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra.

According to sources, ED teams arrived at Mitra’s residences in Bhawanipur and Kalighat early in the morning and began extensive searches. It was not immediately clear at which of the two residences the veteran Trinamool leader was present when the raids commenced.

Officials are reportedly examining allegations of corruption and irregularities in appointments made by municipal bodies. As part of the ongoing probe, investigators are looking into recruitment-related matters connected to the Kamarhati Municipality, prompting the agency to conduct searches at Mitra’s premises. Another ED team was also deployed in the Behala area in connection with the investigation.

The development comes a day after Madan Mitra strongly criticised the alleged treatment of Kamarhati Municipality Chairman Gopal Saha. Accusing certain quarters of attempting to paralyse municipal services and exert pressure on the chairman, Mitra had urged all municipal councillors to resign in protest. He claimed that circumstances had left the chairman with little option but to step down.

Mitra also called upon Trinamool supporters and councillors to stage protests against what he described as undue interference in the functioning of the municipality. Expressing confidence in his party’s prospects, he asserted that the Trinamool Congress would regain control of the municipal board by winning every ward in the next civic elections.

The ED action, coming just a day after those remarks, has sparked fresh political speculation in the state.

Although the Trinamool Congress suffered setbacks in the recently concluded Assembly elections, Madan Mitra managed to retain his Kamarhati seat. However, political tensions within local civic bodies and allegations involving municipal administration have continued to make headlines. Several councillors have faced arrest and allegations of extortion in recent months, and the municipal recruitment probe has now brought Mitra under the scrutiny of central investigating agencies.

Notably, this is not the first time investigators have searched properties linked to the Trinamool legislator. The Central Bureau of Investigation had previously conducted raids at his residence in connection with other investigations. The latest ED searches are expected to further intensify political debate surrounding alleged recruitment irregularities in West Bengal's municipal bodies.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh