Tag: Cattle smuggling case

  • Anubrata Mondal acquitted by court in Mangalkot violence case

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal and 13 others were acquitted on Friday in a 2010 case of violence at Mangalkot in Birbhum district by an MP/MLA court here on Friday.

    Mondal and the 13 others were accused in the case of political violence in March, 2010, in which some people were injured.

    The judge of the MP/MLA court acquitted Mondal and the others for want of evidence.

    The prosecution could not prove from the testimonies of witnesses that the accused were present in the scene of violence, the court held.

    It was alleged that a few activists of the then ruling CPI(M) were injured in a clash with TMC supporters at a village in Mangalkot.

    Following his acquittal, Mondal claimed that he had been framed in the case.

    The TMC leader is at present in judicial custody following his arrest on August 11 by CBI in connection with the cattle smuggling case.

    KOLKATA: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal and 13 others were acquitted on Friday in a 2010 case of violence at Mangalkot in Birbhum district by an MP/MLA court here on Friday.

    Mondal and the 13 others were accused in the case of political violence in March, 2010, in which some people were injured.

    The judge of the MP/MLA court acquitted Mondal and the others for want of evidence.

    The prosecution could not prove from the testimonies of witnesses that the accused were present in the scene of violence, the court held.

    It was alleged that a few activists of the then ruling CPI(M) were injured in a clash with TMC supporters at a village in Mangalkot.

    Following his acquittal, Mondal claimed that he had been framed in the case.

    The TMC leader is at present in judicial custody following his arrest on August 11 by CBI in connection with the cattle smuggling case.

  • Cattle smuggling: Lawyer arrested for writing threat letter to CBI judge hearing Anubrata’s case

    By PTI

    ASANSOL: A lawyer has been arrested for allegedly writing a threat letter to a CBI judge hearing the case of arrested TMC strongman Anubrata Mondal, police said on Tuesday.

    The accused, Sudipta Roy, was nabbed from BNR More in Asansol city on Monday night for allegedly threatening special CBI judge Rajesh Chakraborty with a drug case if Mondal, the TMC Birbhum district president, is not granted bail in a cattle smuggling case.

    He was arrested after his mobile tower location was tracked down while he was attempting to return home, a police officer said.

    During investigation, it was revealed that the accused, out of personal enmity with Asansol District Court head clerk and TMC leader Bappaditya Chattopadhyay, had impersonated him, using his name and official stamp, while sending the threat letter, the officer said.

    “The accused had sent the letter to the CBI court judge on August 23 by speed post to frame Chattopadhyay, his old enemy,” he said.

    The arrested lawyer had allegedly threatened Chattopadhyay a few days ago, he added.

    Chattopadhyay, in a secret statement under Section 164, had on August 26 stated about Roy’s threat.

    Following this, an investigation was initiated by the Asansol-Durgapur Police Intelligence Department.

    Last week, Chakraborty had written to Paschim Bardhaman district judge, urging him to take note of the threat and bring it to the notice of the registrar, judicial service, and appellate side of the Calcutta High Court.

    A fake Aadhaar card in Chattopadhyay’s name was found from the possession of Roy.

    During investigation, it was also found that Roy had earlier forged a stamp of a judge and was also booked in a drug case, the police officer said.

    Mondal was arrested by the CBI on August 11 in the cattle smuggling case.

    He is presently in 14-day judicial custody in Asansol.

    The special CBI court in Asansol is hearing coal and cattle smuggling cases.

    Several people have been arrested.

    ASANSOL: A lawyer has been arrested for allegedly writing a threat letter to a CBI judge hearing the case of arrested TMC strongman Anubrata Mondal, police said on Tuesday.

    The accused, Sudipta Roy, was nabbed from BNR More in Asansol city on Monday night for allegedly threatening special CBI judge Rajesh Chakraborty with a drug case if Mondal, the TMC Birbhum district president, is not granted bail in a cattle smuggling case.

    He was arrested after his mobile tower location was tracked down while he was attempting to return home, a police officer said.

    During investigation, it was revealed that the accused, out of personal enmity with Asansol District Court head clerk and TMC leader Bappaditya Chattopadhyay, had impersonated him, using his name and official stamp, while sending the threat letter, the officer said.

    “The accused had sent the letter to the CBI court judge on August 23 by speed post to frame Chattopadhyay, his old enemy,” he said.

    The arrested lawyer had allegedly threatened Chattopadhyay a few days ago, he added.

    Chattopadhyay, in a secret statement under Section 164, had on August 26 stated about Roy’s threat.

    Following this, an investigation was initiated by the Asansol-Durgapur Police Intelligence Department.

    Last week, Chakraborty had written to Paschim Bardhaman district judge, urging him to take note of the threat and bring it to the notice of the registrar, judicial service, and appellate side of the Calcutta High Court.

    A fake Aadhaar card in Chattopadhyay’s name was found from the possession of Roy.

    During investigation, it was also found that Roy had earlier forged a stamp of a judge and was also booked in a drug case, the police officer said.

    Mondal was arrested by the CBI on August 11 in the cattle smuggling case.

    He is presently in 14-day judicial custody in Asansol.

    The special CBI court in Asansol is hearing coal and cattle smuggling cases.

    Several people have been arrested.

  • ‘Action at right time’: TMC reacts as CBI arrests Anubrata Mondal, raids his aides’ homes

    By PTI

    BOLPUR: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal was Thursday arrested by the CBI from his residence here in connection with a cattle smuggling case, after twice skipping his scheduled appearance before the central probe agency in three days, an official said.

    The CBI served a notice to Mondal under Section 41 of CrPC before arresting him for allegedly not cooperating in its probe into the scam, he said.

    Earlier in the day, a CBI team comprising at least eight officers along with personnel of central forces reached the Birbhum district president’s residence around 10 am, and conducted a search operation, as part of the investigation.

    Mondal was grilled in a room on the second floor of his residence for almost an hour, the official said. “We have arrested him for non-cooperation in the investigation into the cattle smuggling case. We have found Mr Mondal’s direct involvement in the scam. We will question him today and take necessary action as per law,” he told PTI.

    Mondal had skipped his scheduled appearance on Monday and Wednesday, citing ill-health. The official said the CBI would also question the doctor of a Bolpur hospital who had prescribed Mondal bed rest for 14 days.

    Sleuths of the probe agency are conducting raids at residences of several close associates of the TMC leader as well, the official added.

    Mondal’s arrest comes close on the heels of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) apprehending now-suspended TMC leader and former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in a school jobs scam.

    Meanwhile, the ruling TMC said the party was keeping a close watch on the situation. “The party will take an appropriate decision at the right time. But, we want to make it clear that TMC will not compromise on any instance of corruption,” MP Santanu Sen said.

    Sen added that the party has “zero tolerance” on corruption and wrongdoings. The top TMC leadership will likely meet in the evening to take a call on the issue.

    Opposition BJP alleged that Mondal’s arrest proves the ruling party was neck-deep in corruption, and demanded a statement from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “It is time the CM comes out with a statement on the arrest of Mondal. We all know he was close to the top TMC leadership,” BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said.

    “The arrest of Chatterjee and now Mondal is an example of the much-hyped Bengal development model,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.

    CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty claimed that Mondal considered himself above the law in Birbhum district and the TMC leadership “turned a blind eye to his misdeeds”.

    BOLPUR: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal was Thursday arrested by the CBI from his residence here in connection with a cattle smuggling case, after twice skipping his scheduled appearance before the central probe agency in three days, an official said.

    The CBI served a notice to Mondal under Section 41 of CrPC before arresting him for allegedly not cooperating in its probe into the scam, he said.

    Earlier in the day, a CBI team comprising at least eight officers along with personnel of central forces reached the Birbhum district president’s residence around 10 am, and conducted a search operation, as part of the investigation.

    Mondal was grilled in a room on the second floor of his residence for almost an hour, the official said. “We have arrested him for non-cooperation in the investigation into the cattle smuggling case. We have found Mr Mondal’s direct involvement in the scam. We will question him today and take necessary action as per law,” he told PTI.

    Mondal had skipped his scheduled appearance on Monday and Wednesday, citing ill-health. The official said the CBI would also question the doctor of a Bolpur hospital who had prescribed Mondal bed rest for 14 days.

    Sleuths of the probe agency are conducting raids at residences of several close associates of the TMC leader as well, the official added.

    Mondal’s arrest comes close on the heels of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) apprehending now-suspended TMC leader and former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in a school jobs scam.

    Meanwhile, the ruling TMC said the party was keeping a close watch on the situation. “The party will take an appropriate decision at the right time. But, we want to make it clear that TMC will not compromise on any instance of corruption,” MP Santanu Sen said.

    Sen added that the party has “zero tolerance” on corruption and wrongdoings. The top TMC leadership will likely meet in the evening to take a call on the issue.

    Opposition BJP alleged that Mondal’s arrest proves the ruling party was neck-deep in corruption, and demanded a statement from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “It is time the CM comes out with a statement on the arrest of Mondal. We all know he was close to the top TMC leadership,” BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said.

    “The arrest of Chatterjee and now Mondal is an example of the much-hyped Bengal development model,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.

    CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty claimed that Mondal considered himself above the law in Birbhum district and the TMC leadership “turned a blind eye to his misdeeds”.

  • Cattle smuggling: Doctor advises rest to Trinamool’s Anubrata Mondal ahead of his CBI appearance

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: A day after he skipped CBI appearance in connection with a cattle smuggling case citing medical check-up as reason, TMC leader Anubrata Mondal was on Tuesday advised rest “for a few days” by a doctor who examined him at his Bolpur residence.

    Mondal, who is in his 60s, is scheduled to appear before CBI sleuths again on Wednesday in connection with the probe, after having skipped Monday’s session.

    Dr Chandranath Adhikari, who examined Mondal, said that he advised the TMC Birbhum district president to take “rest at home for a few days”, after taking into consideration his physical and psychological condition.

    “He has an infection on his fistula. Besides, he also suffers from diabetes, obesity, acute mental anxiety and depression,” Adhikari told reporters.

    The TMC leader, who often made headlines for his off-the-cuff remarks on various issues, has been asked by the CBI to appear before it on several occasions in connection with its probe into the cattle scam.

    In the past, too, Mondal skipped summonses citing ill health.

    Earlier in the day, a CBI official said that the agency had sent officers to Mondal’s residence to “ensure that Mondal received the summons personally”.

    “We have asked him to come to our Nizam Palace office in the city on Wednesday morning around 11 am,” the official told PTI.

    Mondal returned to Bolpur from Kolkata on Monday night, following his medical check-up at SSKM hospital.

    Doctors at the hospital had said that the TMC leader does not require admission.

    He has been questioned twice thus far by the central agency, which in the recent past also conducted raids at various locations in the district in connection with the case.

    His bodyguard Saigal Hossain was arrested by the probe agency in June.

    KOLKATA: A day after he skipped CBI appearance in connection with a cattle smuggling case citing medical check-up as reason, TMC leader Anubrata Mondal was on Tuesday advised rest “for a few days” by a doctor who examined him at his Bolpur residence.

    Mondal, who is in his 60s, is scheduled to appear before CBI sleuths again on Wednesday in connection with the probe, after having skipped Monday’s session.

    Dr Chandranath Adhikari, who examined Mondal, said that he advised the TMC Birbhum district president to take “rest at home for a few days”, after taking into consideration his physical and psychological condition.

    “He has an infection on his fistula. Besides, he also suffers from diabetes, obesity, acute mental anxiety and depression,” Adhikari told reporters.

    The TMC leader, who often made headlines for his off-the-cuff remarks on various issues, has been asked by the CBI to appear before it on several occasions in connection with its probe into the cattle scam.

    In the past, too, Mondal skipped summonses citing ill health.

    Earlier in the day, a CBI official said that the agency had sent officers to Mondal’s residence to “ensure that Mondal received the summons personally”.

    “We have asked him to come to our Nizam Palace office in the city on Wednesday morning around 11 am,” the official told PTI.

    Mondal returned to Bolpur from Kolkata on Monday night, following his medical check-up at SSKM hospital.

    Doctors at the hospital had said that the TMC leader does not require admission.

    He has been questioned twice thus far by the central agency, which in the recent past also conducted raids at various locations in the district in connection with the case.

    His bodyguard Saigal Hossain was arrested by the probe agency in June.

  • TMC leader Anubrata Mondal skips CBI appearance in cattle smuggling case

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal has informed the CBI that he would be unable to appear before it on Monday in connection with its investigation into a cattle smuggling case, an agency source said.

    Mondal, the party’s Birbhum district president, is understood to have sent an email expressing his inability to appear before the central probe agency, due to a medical check-up.

    CBI officials have admitted to receiving Mondal’s email, the source said.

    The TMC leader is on his way to state-run SSKM Hospital in the metropolis for a health check-up, a party source said.

    The CBI had summoned Mondal, TMC’s Birbhum district president, on August 5 to appear before it on Monday.

    Mondal has earlier been questioned twice by the central agency as part of its investigation.

    The CBI has in the recent past conducted raids at various locations in the district in connection with the case.

    Mondal’s bodyguard Saigal Hossain has also been arrested by the probe agency.

    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal has informed the CBI that he would be unable to appear before it on Monday in connection with its investigation into a cattle smuggling case, an agency source said.

    Mondal, the party’s Birbhum district president, is understood to have sent an email expressing his inability to appear before the central probe agency, due to a medical check-up.

    CBI officials have admitted to receiving Mondal’s email, the source said.

    The TMC leader is on his way to state-run SSKM Hospital in the metropolis for a health check-up, a party source said.

    The CBI had summoned Mondal, TMC’s Birbhum district president, on August 5 to appear before it on Monday.

    Mondal has earlier been questioned twice by the central agency as part of its investigation.

    The CBI has in the recent past conducted raids at various locations in the district in connection with the case.

    Mondal’s bodyguard Saigal Hossain has also been arrested by the probe agency.

  • TMC’s Anubrata Mondal quizzed by CBI in cattle smuggling case

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal was interrogated by the CBI on Thursday in connection with its investigation into a cattle smuggling case in West Bengal, an official said.

    Mondal, the TMC’s Birbhum district president, reached the CBI office at Nizam Palace here around 9.45 am, he said.

    “The investigating officer in the case is interrogating him. He will be asked around 24 questions set by our detectives in connection with his alleged involvement in the scam,” the officer told PTI.

    Mondal is cooperating, he said.

    The TMC leader has earlier been summoned by the investigating agency for questioning several times, but he did not appear once citing ill-health.

    The CBI had on September 21, 2020 filed a case against BSF commandant Satish Kumar and several others in connection with illegal cattle trade along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal, which was taking place allegedly in connivance with public servants.

    Mohammad Enamul Haque, the alleged kingpin of the racket, was arrested from New Delhi in November 2020.

  • Cattle smuggling case: ED arrests brother of TMC leader Binay Mishra in Delhi

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested Bikash Mishra, brother of Trinamool Congress’ youth wing leader Binay Mishra, in connection with its probe into the cattle smuggling case, sources in the agency said.

    He was apprehended in Delhi, they said.

    The central agency is investigating the money- laundering aspect of the case.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is also probing the cattle smuggling case, had interrogated Bikash once.

    “Bikash was summoned by the CBI officials for the second time. But he did not appear and has been avoiding further interrogation,” sources in the agency said.

    Both the central agencies had earlier carried out searches at residences of the TMC leader and his brother.

    An arrest warrant was issued against the TMC leader in the cattle smuggling case as he has been absconding, they said.

    The agency had in November last year arrested Enamul Haque, the alleged kingpin of the cattle smuggling racket running along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal.

    It is alleged that cattle smugglers were bribing Border Security Force and Customs officials to keep their illegal business running.

    The agency had also arrested a former commandant of the 36 BSF Battalion, in the case.

    Meanwhile, the anti-corruption branch of CBI had filed its charge sheet in the cattle smuggling case at a designated court in West Bengal’s Asansol on February 8.

    The names of the former BSF commandant and Haque have been shown as accused persons in the charge sheet.

  • Cattle-smuggling case: CBI issues lookout notice against TMC leader Binay Mishra’s brother

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The CBI has issued a lookout notice against Bijay Mishra, brother of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Binay Mishra and a close confidante of party MP Abhishek Banerjee, in a cattle-smuggling case, officials said on Saturday.

    The agency is also contemplating to approach the Interpol to get a Red Corner Notice issued against Binay Mishra, who has not joined the probe, they said.

    The agency has summoned two senior officers of the West Bengal police — an inspector general and a superintendent of police — on Monday for questioning in connection with the case, the officials said.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) named Binay Mishra as a co-accused in its supplementary chargesheet filed in the cattle-smuggling case last month.

    Binay Mishra is believed to be very close to West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, the officials said.

    In its chargesheet filed before a special CBI court in West Bengal’s Asansol, the agency has already shown Binay Mishra as absconding.

    On February 18, the CBI filed a chargesheet in the case against Border Security Force (BSF) Commandant Satish Kumar and six others for their alleged involvement in a cattle-smuggling racket operating at the India-Bangladesh border.

    The central probe agency has recently questioned Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira and sister-in-law Menaka Gambhir in a separate case pertaining to illegal coal mining and pilferage from the mines of the Eastern Coalfields Limited.

  • Cattle smuggling case: CBI files charge sheet against BSF Commandant Satish Kumar, six others

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The CBI on Monday filed a charge sheet against BSF Commandant Satish Kumar and six others for their alleged involvement in a cattle smuggling racket operating at the India-Bangladesh border, officials said.

    The agency had taken over the case on September 21, 2020.

    The charge sheet has been filed against Kumar, the then Commandant of 36 Battalion BSF, Enamul Haque, Anarul Seikh, Golam Mustafa Taniya Sanyal, Badal Krishna Sanyal and Rashida Bibi, the officials said.

    In the charge sheet filed before a special court in West Bengal’s Asansol, the CBI alleged that Haque was the mastermind of the illegal cattle trade and was assisted by two other accused in connivance with Kumar who was deployed at Murshidabad and Maldah.

    “Evidence has been found during investigation regarding the alleged illegal cross-border selling of cattle, the related movement, delivery and use of ill-gotten money,” CBI spokesperson RC Joshi said.

    He alleged that three other accused assisted and showed fictitious business activities to regularise the ill-gotten money.

    “Searches were conducted at around 34 locations across the country at the premises of the accused. Then Commandant, BSF and a private person were arrested during the course of investigation,” Joshi said.

    “The said private person continues to be in judicial custody at the time of submission of the charge sheet,” he added.