‘ED is idiot’: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on probe agency's lookout notice against TMC leader

West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on January 7 indicated that the lookout notice by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh is useless since the state government is protecting him. He also called the ED "an idiot" while taking on both the BJP and TMC.

"What will ED do? ED is itself an idiot. The ruling party in Bengal will look after him. The ruling party works to protect dangerous people in the party. This is a 'look after' government. So, what is the use of a lookout circular?" Chowdhury said in a press conference.

#WATCH | On ED issuing lookout circular against TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh after attack on its team, West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says, "What will ED do? ED is itself an idiot. The ruling party in Bengal will look after him. The ruling party works to… pic.twitter.com/W0DwzqjeUP

— ANI (@ANI)

The notice has been issued against Shahjahan Sheikh who is allegedly involved in a ‘ration scam’ in North 24 Parganas's Sandeshkhali. A team of ED visited the district to conduct searches at Sheikh's residence on January 5 when they were attacked by locals. Three officials sustained serious head injuries and their vehicles were also damaged by the mob.

In a statement on X, the ED said that its team was attacked by 800-1000 people "with an intention to cause death."

"Violent mob also snatched/robbed/stole personal/officials belongings of ED officials such as their mobile phones, laptop, cash, wallets, etc. and badly damaged some of the ED vehicles," the probe agency said.

After the shocking attack, Chowdhury strongly criticised the ruling TMC government and called for President's rule in West Bengal.

"After the attack by goons of the ruling government on ED officials, it is clear that there is no law and order in the state. Today, they were injured, tomorrow they can be murdered. Such a thing would not come as a surprise to me," the Congress leader said."We demand that President’s rule should be immediately imposed in West Bengal," he added.