ED cash seizure in connection with coal smuggling triggers political slugfest in West Bengal

Agency seizes ₹1.4 crore cash from unidentified person accused of ‘handling illegal cash of a Minister’

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday said it had seized ₹1.4 crore in cash from the premises of a Kolkata-based company and identified a person who was “handling illegal cash of a Minister” allegedly generated from coal smuggling.

A press statement by the agency said that raids were conducted on Wednesday at the office of Gajraj Group situated at Earle Street, Kolkata.

“A specific intelligence input was gathered that one highly influential political person was making an attempt to launder the proceeds of crime originating from coal smuggling through his close confidant Manjit Singh Grewal @ Jitti Bhai,” the statement by the ED said. 

According to the agency, of a total cash payment of ₹9 crore for ‘Salasar guest house’ at an “under-valued price”, ₹1.4 crore was “unaccounted” money.

The cash seizure by the ED turned into a political issue in West Bengal with the BJP and the Left parties using this to target the Trinamool Congress. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari alleged that Manjit Singh Grewal, named in the ED press statement, has connections with Trinamool Congress.

“Manjit Singh Grewal @ Jitta; who handled @MamataOfficial’s Bhabanipur By-election campaign, has been named in @dir_ed’s Press Release. He can be seen alongside CM & her politician brother Kartik Banerjee. Will CM clarify, like Partha Chatterjee, she’d also take action against him?” Mr. Adhikari tweeted. He shared photographs of Mr. Grewal with Trinamool leaders.

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said that cash is being piled with Trinamool leaders across the State and a proper investigation will bring everything to light.