West Bengal anti-graft panel raids factories linked to TMC stalwart Firhad Hakim

Kolkata-based anti-corruption officials under the freshly formed West Bengal Anti-Graft Authority have started systematic visits to a number of factories linked to veteran Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Firhad Hakim. The inspections are part of the authority's mandate to probe potential irregularities in industrial operations and to ensure compliance with state procurement and tax norms.

According to a statement released by the agency, the team will examine accounting records, labour practices and the sourcing of raw materials at each site. While the list of specific facilities has not been disclosed, the move signals a broader effort by the state government to intensify scrutiny of political figures' business interests.

Firhad Hakim, a long‑time TMC member who has held several ministerial portfolios, has not publicly responded to the inquiry as of the reporting deadline. The anti-graft body, constituted earlier this year, operates independently of the state cabinet and reports directly to the Chief Minister's office.

The ongoing probes are expected to set a precedent for how political leaders' commercial ventures are monitored in West Bengal, with observers noting that transparency could bolster public confidence ahead of upcoming local elections.