At the Sandeshkhali residence of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, the ED launches further searches

In the course of their investigation into the multi-crore ration distribution scam, federal agency detectives raided the home of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who is on the run, in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday morning, 19 days after a mob attacked an ED team, an officer said.

In the presence of local police and two residents who served as witnesses, the ED officials knocked down the collapsible gate at Sheikh’s Sandeshkhali house with the assistance of more than 120 members of the central armed police force, the officer stated.

“Today, we are going through Sheikh’s home.

We’ll make an effort to speak with the locals there as well,” the ED official told PTI.

He said that the ED police entered the residence, shut the gates from the inside, and began searching.

According to a senior officer, ED officials smashed into almirahs and searched Sheikh’s home, including the kitchen, bedrooms, and cabinets.

“Our officer has not yet discovered anything noteworthy inside the residence.

It seems that the paperwork has been moved out of this residence.

Our search is still ongoing, however.

The officer said, “Our police are searching the building’s second level for items.

It was discovered that they were discussing their next move in the search operation with their top commanders.

Meanwhile, a sizable contingent of the federal government, together with police officers from the nearby Nazat police station and the Basirhat Police District, were seen keeping watch outside the property and along the path that led to the building’s front gate.

Prior to being given the “order to conduct a search operation” at the TMC leader’s home, local police had prevented the ED officials from entering.

“To do a search operation at any location within our authority, we must see the order.

This is typical.

After the ED officers gave the order, we allowed them to force open the gate and begin their search inside.

We’ll work with them to make sure they don’t run into any issues,” a top Basirhat Police District official told PTI.

When a group of ED police attempted to break into the TMC leader’s home on January 5, they were attacked by a crowd.

The incident resulted in injuries to three cops.

Sheikh’s family members and the district police had filed a complaint against the ED personnel.

Sheikh, on the other hand, continues to disappear.