2022 West Bengal cow smuggling scam

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West Bengal cow smuggling scam is an ongoing Cattle theft in India scam going on from August 2022. The scam is currently investigated by Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and National Investigation Agency jointly. The scam was revealed, following the arrest of prominent and senior leader of Trinamool Congress and president of Birbhum district Trinamool Congress, Anubrata Mondal, who is also known to be a close aide of the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee by the agencies.[1]

Background[edit]

The cattle smuggle is considered to be illegal in India. The racket was active mainly in the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Kerala. The main purpose of the racket was to smuggle thousands of cattle to the neighbouring country of Bangladesh through the state's border.

The case was first came when JD Mathew, who was the BSF commander in Bengal, was arrested from Kerala in 2018.

Then, in September 2021, CBI registered an FIR against six persons including Satish Kumar, who was a BSF commandant in the South Bengal region, along with the kingpin Enamul Haque, and his aides and other smmuglers, Anarul Sheikh, Md. Gulam Mustafa in 2016 and 2017.[2]

Later, ED arrested Haque in February 2022, from the CBI custody in November 2020 and Satish Kumar in April 2022.[3]

Later, Anubrata Mondal's security personnel Saigal Hossain was interrogated by the agencies and was arrested following the interrogation in June 2022. Following the arrest of Saigal, he revealed the name of Anubrata Mondal in the interrogation and the agencies sent the summon letter to Anubrata Mondal for interrogation in May 2022.[4]

On 11 August 2022, the CBI arrested Anubrata Mondal, following the interrogation in his Bolpur residence. CBI also claimed that he was not cooperating with the agencies to investigate the scam. The agency also raided 13 locations including the residences of an close aide to Anubrata, Karim Khan and Ziaul Haque at Ilambazar, Nanoor and other parts of several areas of Birbhum.[5][6][7] Following his arrest, he was brought to Kolkata for further interrogation, with necessary medical tests.[8]

On 7 October 2022, CBI filed the charge sheet in the court in Asansol against Anubrata, where the charges were brought against him under Section 420 (Cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and several sections of The Prevention of Corruption Act.[8]

In November 2022, Anubrata Mondal's custody was taken by ED from CBI.[9] Later, in December 2022, Anubrata Mondal moved to Delhi High Court for bail plea and to avoid of taking him to New Delhi for further investigation by the agencies. However the plea was dismissed by the court later.[10]

In January 2023, he again moved to the court for bail plea, but again denied.[11] He was moved to Tihar Jail in Delhi from Asansol in April.

Also, in April, Anubrata Mondal's daughter Sukanya Mondal was summoned by ED for three times. She went for interrogation to ED Delhi office with all the documents.[12]

On 26 April 2023, Sukanya Mondal was also arrested, following the interrogation by ED in New Delhi and sent to 3-day custody.[13][14] She applied for a bail plea twice in the court, but both the time, it was denied.

On 22 February 2024, actor Dev was interrogated for 8 hours by ED in connection with the scam.[15]

Reactions[edit]

Soon after the arrest of Anubrata Mondal, Trinamool Congress leaders condemned the arrest and blamed Bharatiya Janata Party for the arrest and to malign the party's image in Bengal, but they also said that they are keeping an eye on the situation and there is absolutely no comprise on it.[16] BJP Birbhum leadership celebrated the occasion in the various party offices across Birbhum district in Rampurhat, Siuri, Bolpur and Sainthia.[17]

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said that it is the beginning of the Mamata Banerjee's end. He also blamed that she was also involved in such scams, and agencies should interrogate her as well. He also said that like Partha Chatterjee and Anubrata's arrest, other TMC leaders also would get arrested soon.[18]

TMC Minister and Mayor of Kolkata, Firhad Hakim said that the central agencies would not be able to keep Anubrata behind the bars for a long time, as he is a "Banglar Bagh" (Bengal's tiger).[19]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Trinamool Leader's Dramatic Arrest By CBI In Cattle Smuggling Scam". NDTV. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Explained: The cattle smuggling scam, which led to the arrest of Anubrata Mondal, Mamata's Birbhum 'Bahubali'". Firstpost. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  3. ^ "ED arrests prime accused in cross-border cattle smuggling case". The Indian Express. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Trinamool Leader Interrogated By CBI Over Cattle Smuggling Case". NDTV. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  5. ^ "CBI Arrests Trinamool Leader Anubrata Mondal For "Non-Cooperation In Probe"". NDTV. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  6. ^ "CBI arrests TMC leader Anubrata Mondal in cattle smuggling case". The Times of India. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  7. ^ "TMC leader Anubrata Mondal arrested by CBI; BJP says time for Mamata to speak". Hindustan Times. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  8. ^ a b "CBI files charge sheet against Trinamool leader Anubrata Mondal". The Hindu. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Anubrata Mondal: সিবিআইয়ের পর ইডির হাতে গ্রেফতার অনুব্রত, এবার কি দিল্লিতে?". Hindustan Times. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Desperate to avoid being taken to Delhi, Anubrata Mondal moves Delhi HC". The Economic Times. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Bengal cattle smuggling case: TMC leader Anubrata Mandal moves Delhi HC for bail". The Print. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Cattle scam: ED again summons TMC leader Anubrata Mondal's daughter". Deccan Herald. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  13. ^ "ED arrests Sukanya Mondal, daughter of TMC leader Anubrata Mondal, in multi-crore cattle smuggling scam". The Times of India. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Birbhum leader Anubrata Mondal's daughter Sukanya arrested by ED; TMC reacts". Hindustan Times. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Cattle smuggling case: Actor-Trinamul Congress MP Dev faces 8-hour ED quiz in Delhi". The Telegraph. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  16. ^ "'Action at right time': TMC reacts as CBI arrests Anubrata Mondal, raids his aides' homes". The New Indian Express. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  17. ^ "West Bengal: BJP workers celebrate arrest of Anubrata Mondal". The Times of India. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  18. ^ "'Get ready to go behind bars', Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar tells Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim". The Economic Times. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  19. ^ "'এখনও মনে করি অনুব্রত বীরভূমের বাঘ', দলের জেলা সভাপতির পাশে দাঁড়িয়ে ফের ফিরহাদ-মন্তব্য". Anandabazar Patrika. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
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