TMC calls ED searches at Nadimul Haque-linked premises ‘political vendetta’
The Trinamool Congress on Monday described Enforcement Directorate searches at premises linked to its Rajya Sabha MP Nadimul Haque as a "vicious political vendetta".
TMC Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien alleged that the searches were intended to divert attention from the building collapse in Delhi that killed students.
The party said the ED search at its Delhi office, which is also Haque's official residence, ended around 1 pm after nearly two hours. However, it alleged that the officials remained at the premises for nearly 10 more hours "awaiting instructions" before leaving after 10 pm.
According to the TMC, the ED officials found nothing during the search and took away an old phone, an old iPad and some hard disks containing electoral roll data, which the party described as publicly available information.
The ED searched seven premises in Kolkata, Delhi and Ranchi on Monday as part of a money laundering investigation involving an Urdu daily promoted by Haque, officials said.
Haque, 56, is a director of Akhbar-E-Mashriq Private Limited, which publishes the Urdu newspaper "Akhbar-E-Mashriq". The ED case was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and stems from an FIR filed by the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, according to officials.
O'Brien alleged that the searches were being used to shift attention away from the Delhi building collapse.
"What the BJP is trying to do is create a diversion from the death of students in Delhi caused by their 'faltu' (useless) engine sarkar," O'Brien said in a statement.
He said the searches were conducted at several premises linked to Haque, including the TMC's Delhi office, which he said had also been Haque's residence for 15 years.
O'Brien said Haque was in Ranchi attending a meeting of Parliament's Government Assurances Committee when the searches were conducted. According to him, Haque raised the matter during the meeting.
The TMC leader alleged that the ED action was politically motivated and said the party would continue to question the BJP-led government.
He also alleged that ED officials threatened party staff over access to the Delhi office.
O'Brien claimed that officials warned they would break open the lock if the keys were not provided, as office staff had gone out for personal work.
The TMC leader said the party would not allow what he called an ED-BJP attempt to divert attention from the Delhi building collapse.
He also questioned the government's handling of student protests, saying the action reflected what he described as a "desperate government".
O'Brien further alleged that Haque was targeted because he is a Muslim and said the party would raise the matter with the presiding officer.
He also alleged that the ED action amounted to systematic targeting of the media, pointing out that Haque runs what he described as eastern India's biggest Urdu newspaper.
ED officials said the investigation concerns allegations related to the publication and dissemination of material promoting communal disharmony, "unaccounted" cash transactions and funding from suspicious sources.
According to agency officials, the newspaper had "overstated" its circulation to obtain government advertisements. They also alleged that the publication received the "majority" of its funds from the erstwhile TMC-led West Bengal government through an advertising agency linked to a Dubai-based entity. (with inputs from PTI)
