Who is Anubrata Mondal: Meet Mamata's Birbhum 'Bahubali' Who Popularised Her 'Khela Hobe' Battle Cry

Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal was on Thursday arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after two no-shows in three days for questioning in the cattle smuggling case.

Mondal, known as the “Bahubali” leader of TMC in Birbhum, is the founding member of the party in the district and is a close aide of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. Mondal is fondly called “Kesto da” by his supporters, and, locals say nothing can happen in Birbhum without his nod.

The controversial TMC leader suffers from hypoxia for which he carries oxygen with him.

Mondal, Controversy’s Favourite Child

During the 2013 panchayat elections, Mondal openly directed his workers to hurl bombs at houses of Independent candidates. A person named Hridoy Ghosh had died post Mondal’s direction to the TMC workers, which the Opposition claimed was a result of fallout of Mondal’s comments.

Anubrata Mondal had also said that houses of those who disturb the TMC will be attacked at night. Mondal has been monitored several times during election by court with special officers appointed to keep an eye on him. He popularised the political slogan “khela hobe” which dominated the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election which saw the TMC defeating the BJP.

Anubrata Mondal had been quizzed by the CBI in the post-poll violence case and the agency now wants to grill him in connection with the cattle smuggling case.

Mondal’s bodyguard, Segal Hussain, has been arrested and more than Rs 100 crore worth of properties has been found to be linked to him.

The CBI has submitted supplementary chargesheet in the cattle smuggling case in which Segal Hussain, along with a few other important names, has been mentioned.

Mondal was hospitalised for long the last time CBI had called him for questioning. This time, Bengal government-run SSKM hospital has declared that his hospitalisation is not required. On Monday, when he went for check-up, locals at the hospital shouted “chor chor“.

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