Real estate group office in Siliguri raided, part of IT raid on Bengal MLA

EOI, SILIGURI / KOLKATA, MAY 3, 2023 : The office of a real estate group on Sevoke Road in Siliguri was raided by the Income-Tax Department on Wednesday morning. 

Sleuths of the IT Department also conducted searches during the day at multiple premises linked to West Bengal MLA Krishna Kalyani, including his residence in Raiganj. 

Sources said the MLA was a partner in the real estate business group. After his election as MLA on a BJP ticket, Krishna Kalyani had announced his allegiance to Trinamool Congress.

The I-T officials entered Kalyani's house early in the morning and prevented him from leaving, during the course of the raids that continued for several hours. Additionally, the I-T officials confiscated the phones of everyone present on the premises where the raids were underway.

On Wednesday morning sleuths from the Income Tax Department carried out simultaneous raids on the residence showroom and office of Raiganj MLA Krishna Kalyani as well as several other establishments affiliated with him.

The IT officials entered Kalyani s house early in the morning and prevented him from leaving during the course of the raids that continued for several hours Additionally the IT officials confiscated the phones of everyone present on the premises where the raids were underway.

Pradeep Kalyani the ward number 18 coordinator for the Trinamool Congress and Krishna Kalyani s brother accused the IT department of raiding the MLA s house without any rhyme or reason 

“The actions were politically motivated and many people were confused about the reasons for the raid Pradeep said.

According to sources the IT department had previously issued notices to Krishna Kalyani s food and edible oil company over alleged financial irregularities in its dealings with two Kolkata based television channels.

Though it has not revealed the possible reasons behind the raid it is believed the IT department is investigating potential money laundering by the company.

Krishna Kalyani who was formerly associated with the BJP joined the Trinamool Congress and was appointed as the chairman of the party s public accounts committee In the 2021 assembly election he ran as a BJP candidate before defecting to the Trinamool Congress without resigning from the assembly.

The raids on Krishna Kalyani s properties come in the wake of the seizure of crores of rupees from the home of Arpita Mukherjee a close aide of suspended Trinamool minister Partha Chatterjee.

The minister has been accused of corruption specifically taking bribes to facilitate teacher and staff recruitment in state run schools while he was Education Minister in 2016.

The Trinamool Congress has distanced itself from Chatterjee following the revelations and he has been dismissed from all party and ministerial posts. 

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