KOLKATA Two senior West Bengal cabinet members referred to the actions of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday afternoon as a scheme by the Union government to wreck the state's economy as the investigators from the central agency searched the home of city-based businessman Nasir Khan and his son Amir Khan.

"I believe that the Union administration and the BJP are using these ongoing raids and search activities by the central agencies as a ruse to damage West Bengal's reputation and economy. We frequently hear about income tax searches at Kolkata businessmen's homes. But no recoveries come from the raids. In situations where there is recovery, I have nothing to say. However, such overzealous central agency operations, in my opinion, are a ruse to present a poor impression of West Bengal to potential investors, said the state minister for commerce and industries and the mayor of Kolkata, Firhad Hakim.

The cash found at Nasir Khan's home in Shahi Astabal Lane in the Garden Reach the area on the southern outskirts of Kolkata had grown to Rs 8 crore at the time he made this remark, and the counting of notes was still ongoing.
Snehasish Chakraborty, the state's minister of transport, said that the Union government's inappropriate use of the ED and CBI for political purposes is eroding their credibility. He continued, "Central agencies should be used carefully."

The leader of the opposing party, however, has made fun of the minister's remarks. Sujan Chakraborty, a member of the CPI(M) central committee, claimed that West Bengal is rife with money that was gained dishonestly and illegally. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is in charge of a fraudulent system in our country, he claimed.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the state congress president, all Trinamool Congress leaders' homes have undeclared money. "We saw a similar thing happen in the state's teacher recruitment scandal. He said, "I don't know what the chief minister will say now.

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