Kolkata, Sep 18 (IANS) After the Calcutta High Court’s order, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an investigation into allegations of illegal construction in Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal.
The central investigation agency officers raided a three-storey house on the Canal East Road in the city, agency officials said on Thursday.
One floor of the house is used for commercial purposes while the upper floors are used for housing.
More than 50 houses have been illegally constructed in Beliaghata, Maniktala, Rajabazar and Canal East Road in Kolkata.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) report has mentioned 42 constructions as illegal.
A case was recently filed in the High Court regarding this report.
It is alleged that the demolition of the illegal constructions was ordered earlier, but no work was done.
In addition to corruption worth several thousand crores of rupees, there are allegations of laundering black money and illegally investing foreign currency in the illegal construction business.
There are allegations of construction without minimum permission.
The court was also told that there is a risk of national security being disrupted as a result.
In view of that case, the High Court’s Chief Justice’s bench had ordered a CBI investigation on September 11.
It was said that the CBI can also form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) if necessary.
The High Court also ordered the CBI to submit its preliminary report by October 14.
It is not initially clear what specific allegations are being made against the three-storey house on Canal East Road that the CBI raided on Thursday afternoon.
There is no plaster on the outer walls of the house. The construction work on the inside of the house is also incomplete. There is no railing on the stairs. However, people still live there.
Although the work on the house is not complete, there is AC in some rooms.
Upon reaching the area, the CBI officials climbed the stairs of the building. They spoke to the local residents there and collected necessary information.
The court also questioned on September 11 why the administration did not take action against the illegal construction on its own.
The division bench of the Chief Justice had asked why was a suo motu inquiry not conducted for so long.
The court was of the view that this should have been done by the KMC or the state. Therefore, the High Court ordered a CBI investigation into the illegal constructions.
–IANS
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