Jharkhand MLAs cash seizure case: Bengal CID 'restrained' from conducting searches

Despite having a court warrant, they were prevented from carrying out a search operation, says Bengal police

West Bengal police personnel detain three Jharkhand Congress MLA (who have been expelled by the party), after a huge amount of cash was found in their vehicle on Saturday, in Howrah district, Sunday, July 31, 2022. | Photo Credit: PTI

The Criminal Investigation Department of West Bengal (CID of West Bengal Police on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, said that its officers investigating cash seizure from three Jharkhand MLAs have been detained by Delhi Police and prevented from conducting lawful search.

“The case involves seizure of huge cash from three Congress MLAs of Jharkhand. Detaining & preventing the CID WB team to conduct lawful search will lead to disappearance of crucial evidence by the suspects responsibility of which will lie on the DP officers who prevented the search. @CPDelhi,” CID West Bengal tweeted from its official handle.

In another tweet, the CID sought personal intervention of Commissioner of Police, Delhi and added that a team of CID which had gone to Delhi to execute search warrant issued by a Court course of investigation of Panchla Police Station Case No 276/22 .

.@BJP4India, we have only one question for you - WHAT ARE YOU SO AFRAID OF?

Despite having a search warrant, why is Delhi Police not allowing WB CID to search the premises of Sidharth Majumdar, who allegedly played a key role in attempts made towards toppling the Jharkhand Govt? https://t.co/i1Rl1e9bT6

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) August 3, 2022

The CID said that the officers “been stopped from doing their lawful duty on the direction of @dcp_southwest”. The investigating agency also shared the screen shot of a warrant issued by a Court in Howrah to serach the house of Sidharth Majumdar, who according to CID was involved in connection with the seizure of cash. According to CID, four of its officers had visited Delhi. A team of senior police officers from West Bengal are likely to reach Delhi in connection with the matter.

Three Congress MLAs from Jharkhand; Irfan Ansari, Rajesh Kachchap and Naman Bixal Kongari were arrested from Panchala in Howrah with a cash of ₹49 lakhs on July 30. Their arrest had triggered a political row with the Congress alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to destabilise the elected government in Jharkhand. The CID on Tuesday had raided an office of Kolkata based businessman on Tuesday and seized more cash in connection with the case.

The Trinamool Congress leadership has described the development “unlawful”. TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said that even in past Delhi Police has stopped police from Opposition ruled States from conducting investigating in the cases pertaining to their states in Delhi.