Another one bites the dust

Shankar Adhya was finally arrested in early hours of Saturday. The TMC leaders supporters tried to stop the ED officers. PIC/X

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Bongaon Municipality's former chairman Shankar Adhya in the early hours of Saturday in connection with the alleged ration scam in West Bengal, officials said.

Adhya, a TMC leader in the North 24 Parganas district, was arrested from his residence in Simultola in Bongaon after searches were conducted by the agency at properties linked to him and his family members. These searches went on for at least 17 hours on Friday, they said.

Following the arrest, his supporters allegedly tried to block the investigators from taking him with them, besides hurling stones at their vehicles. The CRPF personnel who were accompanying the ED team had to baton-charge the mob to bring the situation under control, they added.

"Along with the searches, Adhya was also being questioned. He was arrested as his replies were not satisfactory," an ED officer said. "After the arrest, his supporters, led by women, tried to stop the officers from taking him along with them. The accompanying CRPF personnel brought the situation under control," he said.

This was the second attack on the agency after the one in Sandeshkhali in neighbouring South 24 Parganas district on Friday. The ED said three of its officers suffered "grievous" injuries after a mob vandalised its vehicles during a raid at the residence of TMC leader Sahajahan Sheikh.

The mob also snatched their personal belongings such as mobile phones and wallets. Adhya is considered to be close to state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, who was arrested in connection with the alleged scam last year.

Besides documents, the ED seized around eight lakhs in cash from the residence of the in-laws, the officer said. Soon after his arrest, Adhya told reporters, "I'll cooperate with the ED and will help them in every possible way."

On the run

A day after a mob assaulted ED officers during a raid at the residence of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh in West Bengal, the central agency on Saturday issued a lookout notice for him, an official said.

A vehicle which was damaged by Sajahan's supporters. File pic

"We have issued a lookout notice for the TMC leader and necessary instructions have been sent to the Airports Authority of India," the ED officer said. There are apprehensions that he might flee the country said ED officers.

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