Police is conducting raids to trace Union Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy’s son Subhrangsu Roy, the Trinamool Congress candidate from Bijpur Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas, who allegedly assaulted an Election Commission team.
“I have spoken to the District Magistrate today and he has informed me that there has been continuous raids in different places but so far police have failed to arrest him,” Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta told reporters here on Thursday.
“So far 12 people have been arrested in this connection but Roy is yet to be arrested,” Mr. Gupta said.
When told that Mr. Subhrangsu has been seen present at different rallies and meetings even on Thursday, Mr. Gupta said, “I have no idea about that but the district administration has informed me that they are doing everything to arrest him.”
When asked whether the charges levelled against him are non-bailable, Mr. Gupta said, “The complaint has been lodged by the MCC team and as I don’t have a copy of the FIR, I can’t say whether the charges are non-bailable or not.”
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) on Thursday demanded strict action by the Election Commission and exemplary punishment for Mr. Roy.
“It is unfortunate that EC officials have been attacked by the candidate which demonstrates scant respect for the democratic system,” CPI(M) central committee member Md Selim said.
Mr. Selim demanded that the EC take strict action against Mr. Roy and award exemplary punishment to him.
“There are hundreds of complaints against the Trinamool Congress. Violation is a rule of game. Be it a Central minister or his son,” Mr. Selim said.
Meanwhile, the candidate’s father Mukul Roy, who is also the All-India Trinamool Congress general secretary said, “Law will take its own course.”
Trinamool Congress secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said, “There are instances galore that our party leaders and workers have been framed in false cases during the Left Front regime. I can’t say what had happened in this case.”
The Election Commission on Tuesday filed an FIR at Bijapur police station against Mr. Roy and 10 others on the charge of assaulting members of a team appointed by the election authority when it went there to erase wall writings on public and private buildings.
The EC later suspended inspector in-charge Partha Pratim Roy for failing to arrest the offender.
