New Delhi: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped up investigation Trinamool Congress MLA Debasish Kumar, in connection with the alleged land encroachment and illegal construction case in Kolkata, questioned him several times when the Income Tax department conducted raids at his residence and election office on Friday.Kumar, who is seeking re-election from Rush Behari assembly constituency in south Kolkata, was summoned by the education ministry on April 1, 3 and 9. He appeared before investigators on all three occasions at the CGO building in Salt Lake City.Income tax officials raided Kumar’s residence on Manoharpukur Road and his election office on Friday while the raids began around 6 am.The ED’s investigation is related to around 17 FIRs filed against a real estate company accused of duping investors by promising high returns. Earlier on March 28, searches were conducted at the company’s offices and the residences of its officials, during which Kumar’s name allegedly came to light.Investigators are looking into allegations that a construction group has encroached on land in south Kolkata with alleged municipal assistance, agency sources said.Officials are probing whether businessman Amit Gangopadhyay and his associates obtained disputed property records, prepared forged documents for the disputed plots and sold them at inflated prices.Some of the properties under scrutiny were reportedly related to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), where Kumar serves as the mayoral council member (MMIC).Investigators reportedly intercepted phone chats in which photos and details of the disputed land were allegedly shared with Kumar. The Department of Education is also examining whether there are any money trails or financial transactions linking him to them.The agency is further investigating the possible involvement of KMC employees and how information related to the disputed property was allegedly obtained.The Trinamool Congress party has accused the BJP-led Center of using central agencies to target opposition leaders ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections.“The BJP is using central probe agencies against our leaders ahead of the upcoming polls. This is a political vendetta,” TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said.TMC state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar said the investigation was politically motivated and accused the BJP of abusing federal agencies ahead of the elections.Bengal BJP chief spokesperson Debjit Sarkar said: “Why is ED questioning Kumar and not you or me? TMC should stop making the same baseless accusations whenever ED or CBI takes action.”Polling for Rash Behari constituency will be held on April 29 in the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections and counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.The raid triggered protests outside Kumar’s residence, where TMC workers raised slogans against the Centre. Central force personnel were deployed to maintain law and order.