Arrested Trinamul strongman Anubrata Mondal has denied receiving “crores” in “protection money” from Enamul Haque, the reported kingpin of cattle smuggling, to enable cattle from various places to be brought to the Birbhum’s bovine market in Illambazar and sent safely toBangladesh border, CBI officers questioning Mondal said on Saturday.

The alleged smuggling went on between December 2015 and April 2017. Saigal Hossain, Mondal’s bodyguard in CBI custody, used to allegedly get money from Haque’s aide identified as Latif, the officers have alleged.

An officer in the CBI probe team said that Mondal refuted the charges and refused to acknowledge Haque’s identity.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), also probing the cattle-smuggling case, arrested Haque in February in Delhi. The CBI had earlier arrested Haque but the Supreme Court granted him bail.

Facing investigators on the 14th floor of the Nizam Palace in the office of the CBI’s anti-corruption branch (ACB) in Calcutta, Mondal refused to respond to the charges during interrogation, insiders said.

The Trinamul’s Birbhum district president either evaded answers or maintained silence throughout a better part of the interrogation during the day, they added.

CBI sources said Mondal’s persistent denials of his alleged involvement was making it difficult for the officers to proceed with the exercise of questioning. He only spoke of his ill-health, they said “Mondal is denying his links with Haque even though the latter alleged he (Mondal) was one of the beneficiaries,” an officer added.

Sleuths said crores of “protection money” would find their way from Haque to Mondal via Latif who ensured it reached Saigal.

Officers said that during the day’s interrogation Mondal did not reply to questions on Haque or Latif and chose to evade anything to do with money and cattle smuggling.

“Only thing that Mondal talks about is his failing health and how he needs several medicines throughout the day,” the official said.

The other time that the arrested leader would speak is during the 30-minute span in the day when he is allowed to meet his lawyers, sources in the investigating agency said.

“He has not been co-operating at all," the official said.

Anubrata's alleged reluctance to speak up could make it even more challenging for the central agency to plead for Mondal's further custody when he is produced before the Asansol court on August 20, a section of senior CBI officials said.

Investigators said they were trying to find out more about Mondal's investments within the period of last six and seven years to understand whether some of the amounts that were parked were "proceeds of crime".

CBI officers said they had learnt about an agro-chemical company where Sukanya, Mondal's daughter, was a shareholder. Besides, there were a few rice-mills across Birbhum where Mondal had invested, the officers alleged.

"We would like to know from Mondal the source of his income and how he met his family's expenses. But he is refusing to answer any question,” the official said.