Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigators on Wednesday conducted raids in five places in Kolkata and seized more cash from two houses belonging to Arpita Mukherjee, close aide of Partha Chatterjee. ED sleuths started search operations in five places around noon on Wednesday, including two houses owned by Arpita in Belgharia in North Kolkata and Baguihati in North 24 Parganas, said sources close to the ED investigation. Latest news suggested that Rs 20 crore was found from Arpita’s house.
The amount of cash seized in fresh raids on Arpita’s houses is not known yet, as the ED investigators were tight-lipped about the seizures and other incriminating evidence they have recovered from those premises. According to sources, however, the amount of cash seized was sizeable as ED officials had to press five counting machines into service at Arpita’s house in Belgharia.
Officials, though, refused to divulge any information about the other three places raided in the day.
According to sources, ED raided Flat No. 8/A of Block No. 5 of Belgharia Town Club Housing that Arpita owns and found stacks of currency notes stashed in wardrobes there, just like her house in Tollygunge, which was raided on 22 July. The ED raid on her Tollygunge house led to the seizure of more than Rs. 20 cr in cash along with a good amount of gold jewellery, foreign currency and some documents.
In the seizure list is a secret black diary about which ED investigators refused to speak. After the recovery of the cash, Arpita and West Bengal Commerce and Industry Minister Partha were arrested by ED investigators. Partha is the main accused in the SSC recruitment scam.
Sources in the ED told The Daily Guardian that some ministers and councillors are under its scanner.
The ED on Tuesday summoned another Trinamool Congress MLA and former Chief of the Bengal Primary Education Board Manik Bhattacharya for questioning on Wednesday.
In the meanwhile, TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has distanced her party from the tainted minister but has not sacked him yet.