CBI searches residences of West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim, TMC MLA Madan Mitra
Kolkata (PTI): The CBI conducted searches at the residences of senior West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim and TMC MLA Madan Mitra in Kolkata on Sunday morning in connection with its investigation into the alleged irregularities in recruitments made by the civic bodies in the state, officials said.
Hakim, the minister of urban development and municipal affairs, is also the mayor of Kolkata. He is a senior leader of the TMC and has significant sway in the party's organisation.
A team of CBI officers reached his residence in south Kolkata's Chetla area along with a large contingent of central forces, officials said.
"Two CBI officers are questioning him," a senior official told PTI.
As the searches began, Hakim's supporters gathered outside his house, and began a protest.
A CBI team also searched the residence of Mitra, a former minister and the MLA of Kamarhati in North 24 Parganas district, in the Bhabanipur area, around 3 km from Hakim's residence in Chetla.
Both Hakim and Mitra were arrested by the CBI in 2021 in the Narada sting operation case. Mitra was also arrested by the CBI in 2014 in the Saradha chit fund scam.
On Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched multiple locations, including the residence of Food and Supplies Minister Rathin Ghosh, in connection with the recruitment case.
It is alleged by the central investigating agencies that around 1,500 people were illegally recruited by different civic bodies in the state, between 2014 and 2018, against monetary considerations.
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Mangaluru: Nigerian national arrested for alleged drug trafficking
Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CCB police have successfully tracked down a Nigerian national residing in Goa, who was supplying cocaine from Goa to Mangaluru city, and seized 30 grams of cocaine.
The arrested accused has been identified as Michael Okfar Odikpo (44), a Nigerian national.
In March 2024, the Mangaluru CCB police arrested Sadaqat Shan Nawaz and Ashfaq, residents of Amblamogaru, who were illegally selling cocaine on a two-wheeler near Yeliarpadav Maidan in Amblamogaru village, Ullal. It was revealed that they had procured the cocaine from Goa. 34 grams of cocaine and other items worth ₹2,72,000 were seized from the duo, and a case was registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.
In connection with this case, the Mangaluru CCB police gathered information about the Goan drug supplier and successfully arrested him from Calangute in North Goa.
From the possession of the accused, the police seized 30 grams of cocaine, a car used for transportation, two mobile phones, ₹4,500 in cash, and a digital weighing scale. The total value of the seized items is estimated at ₹11,25,000. The accused has been handed over to the CEN Crime Police Station for further action.
The investigation revealed that the accused came to India in 2012 on a business visa and stayed in Mumbai for about one and a half years before moving to Goa, where he was allegedly involved in drug trafficking. A total of three cases of drug trafficking have been registered against him in Goa.
The operation was led by ACP Manoj Kumar Naik, with the team comprising Police Inspector Shyam Sundar HM, PSI Sharanappa Bhandary, and CCB personnel.
