New Delhi:

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it has issued a fresh attachment order for seizing assets worth more than Rs 14 crore of suspended West Bengal TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and those allegedly linked to him as part of a money laundering case investigation.

Seventeen bank accounts holding Rs 3.78 crore and 55 immovable properties measuring 38.90 bighas worth Rs 10.50 crore in the name of Sheikh, his brother Sk Alomgir, Sekh Sumaia Hafizia Trust (represented by Sk Alomgir), Sheikh’s “accomplices” Abdul Alim Molla and Shib Prasad Hazra apart from some others have been attached.

A provisional order has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the central agency said in a statement.

In March, the ED had issued the first order for attaching assets worth Rs 12.78 crore in this case.

Shajahan Sheikh, the ED said, created a “criminal empire” in the area revolving around land grabbing, illegal fish farming and trading, grabbing brick fields, cartelisation of contracts, collection of illegal taxes/levies and commission on land deals etc.

Sheikh was arrested by the ED on March 30 in connection with a case of mob assault on the agency’s officials when they went to search his premises in Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas on January 5 in relation to a money laundering case linked to alleged scam in PDS ration distribution 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 said it has 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 Shajahan, and Alomgir.

The total “proceeds of crime” in this money laundering case are estimated at Rs 288.20 crore, as per the ED.

Sheikh, Alomgir, Hazra and Molla were arrested by the agency and they are lodged in jail under judicial custody.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Barasat, West Bengal:

A local court here on Sunday sent suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh’s brother Sheikh Alamgir and two others, arrested by the CBI for the assault on ED officers during a raid in Sandeshkhali on January 5, to five days’ custody of the central agency, police said.

Basirhat sub-divisional court sent Alamgir, Sirajul Molla and Mafijul Molla to five-day CBI custody, they said.

The CBI on Saturday arrested Alamgir and the two others following a marathon questioning in connection with the attack.

The agency suspects that these people were allegedly part of the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials and instigated a crowd to target the team when they went to raid the premises of Sheikh.

Incidentally, on Sunday, officers of the CBI issued summons to seven others in Sandeshkhali in connection with the assault of the Enforcement Directorate officers, a source said.

Sandeshkhali, a riverine island around 80 kilometres from Kolkata, has been in the news after local women alleged land-grabbing and sexual abuse by Shajahan Sheikh and his men, who are involved in fish farming and trading.

Sheikh was arrested on February 29 after 55 days on the run following violent protests led by women, alleging sexual atrocities and land grab. He went missing after a mob attacked the ED team that went to search his house in an alleged ration distribution scam on January 5.

The state CID took over the investigation into the allegations against him. He was later handed over to the CBI on an order of the Calcutta High Court.

On March 10, the court sent him to CBI custody for four days which was later extended by another eight days — till March 22.

The CBI has taken over the investigation in three cases related to incidents on January 5, when the ED team was attacked by an around 1,000-strong mob. A former state minister has been arrested in the ration scam case. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A court in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district on Thursday extended the CBI custody of Sandeshkhali strongman Shajahan Sheikh by eight days.

Shajahan Sheikh was arrested on February 29 after 55 days on the run following violent protests led by women, alleging sexual atrocities and land grab. He went missing after a mob attacked an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team that went to search his house in the alleged ration scam on January 5.

The state CID took over the investigation into the allegations against him.

He was later handed to the CBI on an order of the Calcutta High Court.

On March 10, the court sent him to CBI custody for four days. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)