The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal on Thursday traced as many as 50 'benami' bank accounts held with a cooperative bank in the state.
Initial estimates have revealed that around Rs 10 crore was routed through these 50 bank accounts held at the Birbhum District Central Co-Operative Bank in Suri, which is the district headquarters.
A CBI team led by the investigating officer in the case, Sushanta Bhattacharya, raided the office of the said bank on Thursday and procured the details of the bogus bank accounts.
A source said that the accounts were opened in the names of different marginalised farmers from the same district, but only one particular signature was used in all the application forms for these accounts, as well as in all the transaction slips. However, the investigating officers did reveal details of the signature or its holder.
During the course of the raid, Bhattacharya was even heard asking the manager of the bank what prompted him to assist the process of conversion of unaccounted money into one account.
The source said that transaction details of these 50 accounts revealed that some cheques from the state food and supplies department were also encashed through these accounts.
The CBI doubts that some local rice mills had connections with the cattle-smuggling operators, who purchased paddy at cheaper rates from the local farmers, after converting that paddy into rice in the mills, sold them to the state food and supplies department.
This is the first time that any cooperative bank has come under the CBI's radder in connection with the cattle smuggling case.
Earlier, the CBI had frozen several bank accounts held by Trinamool Congress' Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal, his daughter Sukanya Mondal as well as some of their close associates and family members. But those all those accounts were held in public or private sector banks.
Flight operation between Agartala-Delhi to be increased; resumption of flight operation between Agartala-Aizawl, Agartala-Shillong, says MP Biplab Kumar Deb
The former Chief Minister and presently the MP for West Tripura constituency Biplab Kumar Deb on Friday chaired the airport advisory committee meeting here at Agartala MBB Airport and said that there is a plan to increase direct flight operation from Delhi to Agartala.
Tripura: Bill proposes hike in salaries of CM, Ministers and MLAs upto 50pc
An Amendment Bill has been moved in the Tripura Assembly on Friday proposing the increase of salaries, allowances of Ministers, MLAs and former legislators by 45 to 50 per cent.
Winter assembly session begins in Tripura; Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu lauds Govt’s effort in maintaining law and order in Tripura
In his speech in the sixth session of the 13th Tripura Legislative Assembly, the Governor said, “The state of Tripura is witnessing development in almost every sector including infrastructure, health care, education, agriculture and others under the guidance of the Centre and state leadership.”
TSF stages protest, demands to raise Roman script for Kokborok language in Assembly
The Twipra Student Federation (TSF), a wing of the North East Students Organisation (NESO), on Friday staged a protest near Circuit House in Agartala, demanding the issue of adopting the Roman script for the Kokborok language be raised in the winter session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, which started today.
Govt to appoint over 400 Assistant Professors in colleges: CM
In a move to provide quality education to students studying in various colleges and to solve the crisis of Professors across the state, the Tripura government has taken a series of steps, including the appointment of 200 Assistant Professors,
Drug peddling: ED raids cop's residence, premises of suspected smugglers in Tripura
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths on Friday conducted raids in Tripura and searched the residence of a police official and premises of several people allegedly involved in drug peddling and money laundering cases, sources said.
Crucial winter session of Tripura Assembly to begin from tomorrow
The crucial winter session of the Tripura assembly would begin on Friday and a bill would be moved in the House amending the existing law to provide retirement benefits to all MLAs who have served even for just a day, officials said on Thursday.
Ex-CM accuses BJP of divisive politics to mask hide core issues
Former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Saturday criticized the ruling BJP, accusing it of fostering divisions among Hindus, Muslims, Tribals, and Non-Tribals to divert attention from pressing issues such as rising prices, unemployment, and economic hardships.