Alleged irregularities probe: Bengal BJP MLA Tanmoy Ghosh faces 52-hour income tax raid

Income Tax officials concluded a 52-hour-long search at the rice mill of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Tanmoy Ghosh in Bengal's Bankura district on Friday afternoon. The raid, which commenced on November 8, saw the tax officials, accompanied by a central armed police contingent, locking the gates of Sibani Rice Mill at Bishnupur, Ghosh’s constituency. During the extensive search, employees were not allowed to enter or leave the premises. A Bankura district police officer revealed that the tax officials remained inside the premises for the entire duration, even arranging blankets and food for their stay.

An income tax official in Kolkata disclosed that Tanmoy Ghosh is under scrutiny regarding suspected involvement in alleged irregularities within the public distribution system. This investigation comes in the wake of the arrests of Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick and rice mill owner/hotelier Bakibur Rahaman by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Ghosh, who switched from the Trinamool Congress to the BJP before the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections, won on a BJP ticket from the Bishnupur seat in Bankura district, later rejoining the TMC.

Despite this shift, Ghosh has not officially resigned from the BJP. The ongoing investigation also extends to Ghosh's other businesses, including a liquor dealership.The leader of the Opposition in the legislative assembly, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, commented on Ghosh's political stance, stating that he maintains ambiguity in his affiliations.

Meanwhile, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh accused federal agencies of operating under BJP's instructions to exert pressure on Bengal's ruling party ahead of the 2024 elections. Ghosh, who could not be reached for comments, continues to be a central figure in the evolving political landscape. As the income tax department's actions unfold, the political implications are anticipated in the context of the broader state scenario.