Asansol (WB): A special CBI court on Saturday rejected Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal's bail plea in the alleged cattle smuggling scam and extended his custody with the central agency for four days till August 24. Describing Mondal as a "very powerful and highly influential person", the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appealed for an extension of the TMC leader's custody stating that he could "influence witnesses and tamper evidence if granted bail".
The CBI lawyer said that Mondal has been "non-cooperative from the very beginning despite being issued summonses 10 times. The counsel also claimed that Mondal had pressurised a doctor to prescribe "complete rest". Mondal was arrested on August 11 by the CBI in connection with its investigation into the alleged cattle smuggling scam.
Meanwhile, sources within the CBI said on Saturday that Mondal used WhatsApp calls as a way to avoid detection and communicate with fellow accused Enamul Haque and Saigal Hossain regarding alleged illegal cattle trade and related monetary transactions. They further informed that a substantial cattle market existed in Birbhum's Ilambazar where the trade took place, adding that several high-ranking police officials of the district were also in contact with the TMC leader.
According to sources, the agency is currently in the process of sending phones belonging to the trio for forensic examination at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Hyderabad.