Bengal opposition leader's wife claims NGO raided

Usha Mishra, wife of Leader of Opposition in West Bengal and CPI-M politburo member Surjya Kanta Mishra, on Wednesday claimed police raided an NGO earlier run by her over alleged financial irregularities.

Usha Mishra alleged a political conspiracy after police reportedly searched the office of Bhagawati Devi Nari Kalyan Samity -- which works on AIDS related issues -- in Beldanga in West Midnapore district, in pursuance of a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

"The project ended in 2011. So why this raid after four years? Moreover, the audit reports are okay, there is no question of any irregularity. If they had to inquire about it, they could have called me. Instead, without any intimation, they broke open the office and took away documents," said Usha Mishra.

"Surjya Kanta Mishra is a clean man who has been raising the state government's irregularities both inside and outside the assembly. His family is being targeted only to tarnish his image, especially at a time when the municipal elections are forthcoming," she added.

Incidentally, the reported raid comes days after the CPI-M politburo member questioned the integrity of Trinamool Congress supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the multi-crore-rupee Saradha scam in which many of the state's ruling party leaders have been arrested and interrogated.

"Those who roam around you are not clean but are your hands clean? The chief minister has no answer to this," Surjya Kanta Mishra had said during a party rally on Sunday.