CBI’s new call again, this time Trinamool MLA Saokat Molla in coal smuggling scam
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned the Trinamool Congress party‘s sitting MLA Saokat Molla from the Canning (East) Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district in connection to a coal smuggling case in West Bengal.
Molla is a two-time Trinamool Congress MLA since 2016. He has been summoned to appear at the CBI’s office in Kolkata on Friday at 11 a.m.
CBI sources said that although the coal belt of Asansol in West Burdwan district was the base of smuggling rackets, the investigating sleuths have recently identified several points where the coal smuggled illegally was sent to different areas in the state.
“Now Jeebantala area under Molla’s constituency, Canning (East) houses several brick kilns that require a huge amount of coal at cheaper rates to successfully operate. We have come across many such brick kilns in Canning (East) which had been getting a regular supply of smuggled coal. Our investigators doubt that the local MLA acted as a mediator in this supply and hence he has been summoned for questioning on Friday,” a CBI official said on the condition of anonymity.
Incidentally, Molla’s residence is also in the Jeebantala area. Molla has, however, denied his involvement, saying: “This is a sheer political conspiracy to frame me.”
The MLA also said that he was yet to decide about his appearance before the CBI on Friday.
Before the change of guards in West Bengal in 2011, Molla was an active member of the erstwhile ruling party CPI(M) and was also considered the right-hand man of former Land Reforms Minister, Abdur Razzak Mollah in the previous Left Front regime.
After 2011, Molla shifted to Trinamool Congress and became an MLA from Canning (East) for the first time in 2016. He was re-elected from the same constituency in 2021.
[With Inputs from IANS]
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It is not exactly scam. It is about over exploitation of mother earth, non-payment or under invoicing or unreported production of coal, sold directly in market & profits shared.
All politicians & businessmen in India are all exploited mother earth, while they superficially prayed for Bharat MATA
Exploited mother earth (Earthly element is destroyed), Pollution (air quality is destroyed), Water is polluted (water is destroyed), Water evaporates itself due to adharma !! 4 out of 5 pancha bhutas are destroyed, how can you expect prosperity in the state or in the land or family…etc. ?