Former West Bengal minister Trinamool Congress MLA Zakir Hussain. file photo
The Income Tax Department has seized Rs 11.02 crore in cash during raids at the residence and business establishments of Trinamool Congress leader and former West Bengal minister Zakir Hussain. A prominent businessman and beedi trader, Mr. Hussain is the MLA from Jangipur assembly seat in Murshidabad district.
According to sources, ₹1 crore was seized from residence and ₹10 crore from rice and flour mills. In addition, ₹5.5 crore was seized from two ‘bidi’ manufacturing unit offices. Raids were conducted at various locations in properties belonging to Mr. Hussain.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Hussain said that he tried to cooperate with the investigators but the officer did not behave properly. The Trinamool leader said, “I am a businessman but what is the need of central forces.”
The development has triggered a political row with opposition parties raising the issue. The seizures come at a time when several Trinamool Congress leaders are behind bars for their alleged involvement in the scam. Cash and valuables worth ₹50 crore were recovered from the residence of an aide of former Trinamool Congress minister Partha Chatterjee.
“He is only an MLA so we have got Rs 11 crore. Had he been a minister, the amount would have been more. CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said that the bigger the leader, the bigger the amount of loot.