Kolkata, Mar 8 (UNI) The CBI on Friday began a massive search operation at the residence of arrested TMC leader Sahjahan Sheikh at Sandeshkhali, exactly two days after the federal investigating agency got the custody of the prime accused in alleged sexual harassment and land grabbing of the tribal people, following a Calcutta High Court order, official sources said.
Meanwhile, another official said Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials also began fresh search operations at New Town and Nager Bazar regarding the alleged teacher recruitment scam in the state government-sponsored schools.
A large number of the Central Bureau of Investigation sleuths, accompanied by the armed CRPF jawans, two forensic officers, and as many ED officials, reached the sealed residence of Sahjahan Sheikh at Akunchi Para, Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas and began search operations after breaking open the sealed at the collapsible gates, sources said.
The two ED officials, who were beaten by the alleged followers of the TMC leader, were among the large contingent of central agencies in the search operation. On Thursday, the CBI conducted a raid around the areas and began a search operation this morning.
West Bengal Police arrested the Sandeshkhali prime accused on February 29, nearly 56 days after the ED officials were thrashed and abandoned search operations in the alleged ration scam on January 5.
Sahjahan Sheikh, former Zila Parishad head and known to be a strong politician of the region, was also a close associate of the arrested former Food Minister, Jyoti Priya Mallick.
The CBI got custody of the accused on March 6 from the CID of West Bengal Police following the court order.
Sources said the CBI on Friday took Sahjahan to the ESI hospital in Joka for a routine examination.
The ED also began search operations in the house of former para-teacher Abdul Amin at his Patharghata house in New Town, Rajarhat, and at the Nager Bazar area house of Pankaj Agarwal, the two alleged middlemen of the teacher recruitment scam in the state.
Former education minister Partha Chatterjee has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the scam.
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