Senior BJP leaders summoned in trafficking case

The Criminal Investigation Department of West Bengal has summoned four BJP leaders, including Kailash Vijayvargiya and Roopa Ganguly, in connection with a child trafficking case in the state, an official said.

The leaders have been asked to be present at state CID headquarters in Bhabani Bhawan on July 27 and 29 for inquiry in the case that came to light on February 19 when a complaint was registered at the Jalpaiguri police station.

The names of Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Vijayvargiya and Rajya Sabha member Ganguly surfaced in the case after a series of arrests, including those of political leaders and state government officials.

Juhi Chowdhury, BJP's women's wing leader form Jalpaiguri, after her arrest in February revealed her connection with actor-turned-politician Roopa Ganguly, while Vihayvargiya's name also came up, triggering a political controversy in the state.

The CID sleuths had earlier arrested six people for selling at least 17 children through shady adoption deals.

The arrested were Darjeeling former DCPO Mrinal Ghosh, Darjeeling Child Welfare Committee member Debasish Chanda, chairperson of the accused child adoption centre Chandana Chakraborty, Chief Adoption Officer Sonali Mondal and Chakraborty's aide Manas Bhowmik besides Juhi Chowdhury.

--IANS

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