WB Cattle Smuggling Case: CBI searches underway in Bolpur & Kolkata

Kolkata, Aug 31: The CBI said on Wednesday (Aug 31) that it is conducting searches at four places in West Bengal (in Bolpur and Kolkata) in connection with the cattle smuggling case. The CBI search is underway.

According to the officials, the CBI search is underway at the residence of a businessman, in Bolpur, Birbhum. He is a close aide of the TMC Birbhum district President Anubrata Mondal. The Trinamool Congress Birbhum district President was sent to 14 day judicial custody by CBI Special court in the alleged cattle smuggling case, last week.

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The case has been in a critical phase ever since the special court judge was threatened through a letter, demanding the release of Anubrata Mondal. The special court judge said the letter warned that if "Mondal was not released his family members would be implicated in the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act case with commercial quantity," the judge's letter read.

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Besides, Anubrata Mondal's arrest also led to a war of words between BJP and TMC. West Bengal Finance Minister and TMC leader Chandrima Bhattacharya had alleged that the CBI summons to Mondal was 'political vendetta'. Whereas, BJP leaders have repeatedly accused the TMC regime of fostering corruption.