National Desk, 6th January: In the aftermath of a brazen attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team en route to raid Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh’s residence in West Bengal, the ED has taken a significant step. A lookout notice has been issued for Sheikh in connection with the ongoing investigation into the public distribution system (PDS) scam.
The ED officials faced a hostile mob of nearly a thousand people, reportedly Sheikh’s supporters, during the raid in North 24 Parganas district. The confrontation, occurring on January 5, escalated into violence as the mob aggressively confronted the team, aiming to obstruct their mission. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of law enforcement officials and the heightened tensions surrounding the PDS scam investigation.
In response to the attack, the ED promptly issued a lookout notice for Shahjahan Sheikh, indicating that it has been circulated to airport authorities and the Border Security Force (BSF) to prevent any attempt to leave the country. Sources within the probe agency suggest that Sheikh has been evading authorities since the assault on ED officials near his residence.
Following the incident, an FIR has been registered against Shahjahan Sheikh based on the formal complaint filed by the ED. The development underscores the challenges faced by investigative agencies in their pursuit of justice, highlighting the growing volatility surrounding the investigation into the ration distribution scam.