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Kolkata, October 8, 2023: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday raided the houses of West Bengal ministers Firhad Hakim and Madan Mitra in connection with its probe into the municipal recruitment scam.
The CBI teams, accompanied by central forces, reached Hakim's residence in Chetla and Mitra's residence in Behala in the early hours of the morning. The raids were reportedly carried out on the basis of a search warrant issued by a Calcutta High Court judge.
The CBI is investigating allegations of corruption in the recruitment of Group C and Group D employees in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and other civic bodies in West Bengal. The agency has so far arrested several people, including former Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, in connection with the case.
The raids on Hakim and Mitra's residences come at a time when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal is facing a number of corruption allegations. The CBI is also investigating the Narada sting operation case, in which several TMC leaders were allegedly caught on camera taking bribes.
The TMC has condemned the CBI raids on Hakim and Mitra's residences, calling them politically motivated. The party has accused the central government of using the CBI to target its political opponents.
It remains to be seen what evidence the CBI finds during the raids on Hakim and Mitra's residences. The outcome of the raids could have a significant impact on the political landscape in West Bengal.
