CBI interrogates, close aide of CM Mamata Banerjee, Anubrata Mondal

Anubrata Mondal, TMC (Trinamool Congress) Leader, who was taken into questioning by the CBI (Crime Bureau of India), has been arrested. Allegedly he was directly in contact with the main accused, Enamul Haque.

After Mondal ignored ten consecutive summons, the central agency reached his residence this Thursday morning. CBI’s superintendent (anti-corruption branch), Rajeev Mishra, led a team of officials, with central armed forces personnel who arrived at Bolpur the previous night.

They had arrived at Mondal’s residence by 9:50 a.m. The officials split into two teams. One team went in through the main front gate, and the second team entered from another gate.

Mondal had apparently locked himself on the second floor. He even refused to sign the arrest memo. He came out when he was informed that the para-military forces would break the door.

An official mentioned that, “a doctor from Bolpur Sub-divisional Hospital, was pressurized by his higher authorities, as well as, Mondal to prescribe bed-rest, so he could avoid summons”. 

Mondal had previously skipped summons to appear before the CBI for the probe into the recent West Bengal Cattle Smuggling Case. He had appeared before the CBI at the Kolkata office twice.

More on Anubrata Mondal, leader of TMC.

• The 62 – year old TMC leader, is also popularly known as Kestoda.
• The most trusted aide of CM Mamata Banerjee. 
• He has been with the party since 1998.
• Mondal has been close to Banerjee for approximately two decades.

CBI has also filed a supplementary charge sheet, naming three people involved.

Vikas Mishra (Mondal’s brother), Saigal Hussain (bodyguard), and Abdul Latif are the names mentioned in the charge sheet. Saigal and Vikas are in judicial custody.

Officials arrested Hussain after records revealed several calls between Hussain and the main accused, Enamul Haque. 

BJP takes a dig at TMC after Mondal’s arrest, Amit Malviya tweeted,  “Mamata Banerjee patronizes criminals like Anubrata Mondal. As Chief Minister and Home Minister of West Bengal, she gives state protection to those who operate crime and extortion syndicates under her watch. Partha Chatterjee or Anubrata Mondal, the buck stops at Mamata Banerjee.”

West Bengal Cattle Smuggling Case. 

During 2015-2017, over 20,000 cattle heads, were caught being smuggled and seized by the Border Security Force. Many names have come up during the years, Anubrata Mondal, was amongst the ones involved.

After Partha Chatterjee, Mondal’s arrest is the second biggest arrest by the central agency.