Trinamool MLA Tapas Saha Alleges 'Conspiracy' Against Him As CBI Raids His Residence

Tapas Saha is the fourth TMC legislator to be questioned in the ongoing school recruitment scam probe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted search operations at the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Tapas Saha from Tehatta in Nadia district on Friday. CBI questioned Saha in connection with their ongoing probe into the school recruitment scam, reported news agency PTI, citing a senior police officer.

As the CBI conducted raids at his residence, Saha spoke to the media on Saturday and said he is a victim of a "conspiracy" hatched by his party colleagues. 

"I am a victim of a conspiracy hatched by my own party leader from the district Tina Bhowmik Saha and her associates. They have joined hands with BJP in conspiring against me." Saha said, according to IANS.

  Meanwhile, the CBI officers on Friday seized documents from Saha's office at his residence as well as his mobile phone.

"We are talking to Saha for quite some time now and may continue the questioning," the CBI official told PTI.

The residence of Saha’s assistant was also raided by the CBI. Tapas Saha is the fourth TMC legislator to be questioned in the ongoing probe. 

Incidentally, Saha was also earlier interrogated by the Anti-Corruption Branch of West Bengal police. On Tuesday, the Calcutta High Court ordered the CBI to take over the investigation.

According to IANS, Saha did not hide his grievance against his party leadership for not standing by him or even contacting him during this moment of crisis.

"No one from the party contacted me. I am saying it again that I am a victim of a conspiracy hatched by a section within my party," Saha said.

Although he expressed his confidence in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said he will continue with his struggle against this conspiracy against him with her blessings.

However, he added that he was unsure whether he enjoyed similar support from the party's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee since he could not contact the second-in-command over the telephone.

Saha is the fourth Trinamool MLA to come under the scanner of central agencies in connection with the recruitment scam after former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, ex-Chairman of West Bengal Board of Primary Education Manik Bhattacharya and Jiban Krishna Saha.

While Chatterjee and Bhattacharya are currently in judicial custody, Jiban Krishna Saha is in the custody of CBI.