Kolkata, June 4: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken significant action against former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Shaukat Molla in West Bengal. On Thursday, the agency conducted a raid at Molla’s residence and interrogated his son, Imran Molla. This operation is linked to a bomb blast incident that occurred prior to the assembly elections.
The NIA initiated the raid early Thursday morning in the Mokhali village, under the jurisdiction of the Jivan Tala police station. Multiple vehicles filled with officials arrived at Molla’s home to commence the search operation, which was conducted in the presence of a large contingent of central forces.
Following the NIA’s raid, Shaukat Molla’s wife, Sayer Banu Molla, stated, “My son called me. I was not home at the time.”
Currently, there has been no official information released regarding any recoveries made during the raid. It is noteworthy that the bomb blast in the Bhangar area of South 24 Parganas district occurred just days before the state assembly elections, resulting in one death and several injuries.
Naushad Siddiqui’s party, the Indian Secular Front (ISF), had previously called for an NIA investigation into the incident. Subsequently, the NIA took over the investigation. As part of their inquiry, NIA officials were raiding Shaukat’s home and his party office. Sources indicate that Shaukat had fled his residence before the NIA officials arrived.
Earlier, the NIA had arrested several individuals, including TMC leader Wahidul Islam, in connection with the bomb blast investigation.
Shaukat Molla is a former TMC MLA from the Canning Purba assembly constituency. He was elected twice in 2016 and 2021 from this area. He contested the 2026 assembly elections from the Bhangar constituency in South 24 Parganas but lost to ISF candidate Naushad.
He is considered a close associate of TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and has played a significant role in strengthening Banerjee’s influence in South 24 Parganas.
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