NEWS WAVE INDIA: A Delhi court has remanded Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mandal to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) until March 10 in a case related to cattle smuggling. Mandal was taken into custody by the ED earlier this week after his alleged involvement in the smuggling of cattle from West Bengal was uncovered.

The ED had sought a 14-day custody of Mandal, citing the need to question him thoroughly. However, the special judge Rakesh Kumar directed the agency to produce him before the regular court on March 10 instead.

During the hearing, the ED presented evidence that it claimed indicated Mandal’s involvement in the money laundering aspect of the cattle smuggling operation. The agency argued that Mandal’s custody was necessary to carry out further investigations and to identify other individuals involved in the case.

In response, Mandal’s legal team argued that the allegations against him were politically motivated and that he had no connection to the smuggling or money laundering operation. They further contended that he was being targeted by the ED due to his position within the TMC.

The case has attracted widespread attention due to the involvement of a high-profile political figure like Mandal, who is the TMC’s Birbhum district president. It also comes at a time when the TMC is gearing up for a hotly contested assembly election in West Bengal, with the ruling party facing stiff competition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The incident has added to the tension between the two parties, with the BJP accusing the TMC of being involved in various illegal activities, including cattle smuggling. The TMC, on the other hand, has accused the BJP of trying to tarnish its image by targeting its leaders with baseless allegations.