New Delhi, May 31
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed its first chargesheet against suspended West Bengal TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, his brother and two alleged accomplices as part of a money laundering case investigation.
The other chargesheeted persons are Sk Alomgir, who is Shahjahan's brother, along with Shib Prasad Hazra and Didar Boksh Molla.
As per the case details, Sheikh was arrested by the ED on March 30 following an incident of mob assault on the agency's officials during a search of his premises in Sandeshkhali, located in North 24 Parganas district, on January 5. This search was part of an investigation into a money laundering case associated with an alleged scam in the distribution of PDS ration in the state.
The latest money laundering investigation against Sheikh and his associates stems from multiple FIRs registered by the West Bengal Police against them on charges of giving threats, murder, attempt to murder, extortion, land grabbing etc.
The ED stated that Sheikh had “created a criminal empire revolving around land grabbing, illegal fish farming/trading, grabbing brick fields, cartelisation of contracts, collection of illegal taxes/levies, commission on land deals etc.”
The ED recorded the statement of various persons in the case, including that of local farmers, tribals, fish merchants, agents, exporters, landowners and contractors, and has also seized three SUVs belonging to Sheikh and Alomgir.
The total "proceeds of crime" in this money laundering case are estimated at Rs 288.20 crore, officials further said.
