NCB suspends investigating officer in WB drug racket

An assistant Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Kolkata, N.C. Patra, also one of the main investigators of the drug racket in...

An assistant Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Kolkata, N.C. Patra, also one of the main investigators of the drug racket in the house of former CBI director Upen Biswas, has been placed under suspension for alleged financial irregularities.

According to officials, a departmental inquiry is on against Patra, while the role of some others in the NCB is under the scanner. Sources confirmed there was prima facie evidence against Patra.

The charges relate to extorting money from a businessman from Bongaon, a town on the West Bengal-Bangladesh border. An NCB team, led by Patra, had raided a businessman’s house in February. Though the NCB suspected that he dealt with narcotics, nothing had been found.

A second raid was conducted in April and the businessman was reportedly told to show up at the NCB office. When he turned up, NCB officers allegedly demanded money. The businessman then lodged a complaint alleging unnecessary harassment. He also contacted an NGO and subsequently began recording his conversations with the NCB team. Director General M.K. Singh finally issued Patra’s suspension order on October 27 and referred the matter to the Union Home Ministry.

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