Trinamul national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday asked if "the value of properties belonging to Jay Shah has increased by 80,000 times", then why was the Enforcement Directorate not arresting him.

The question to the central agency was lobbed while Abhishek was referring to the arrest of Sukanya Mondal, daughter of Trinamul Birbhum district president Anubrata, who has been arrested in connection with the cattle smuggling case.

"ED has arrested Sukanya Mondal, daughter of Anubrata Mondal for an apparent rise in the value of her property by 150 times. The property of Amit Shah's son increased by 80,000 times. Then why would Amit Shah's son not be arrested?" Abhishek asked at a rally in Birhum's Muraroi.

"They (ED) have arrested our Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal and took him to Delhi. I am not defending anyone as the investigation will take its own course," he added.

The rally was organised as part of his state-wide outreach Trinamul-ey Nabojowar (The new tide in Trinamul).

Though Abhishek didn't mention from where he got the "80,000 times" figure, sources close to him said that he was using the estimate that several Congress leaders have been mentioning since 2019.

The questions raised by Abhishek assume significance on a day Shah was in the state.

Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal was arrested by CBI for his alleged role in the cattle smuggling case and again arrested by the ED in the same case.

Last month, his daughter, Sukanya, was also arrested by the ED in the same case amid allegations that her wealth increased by around 150 times since 2014. Both father and the daughter are now in Delhi's Tihar jail.

"The ED is saying that the BSF is involved directly and indirectly in cattle smuggling. The BSF is under the Union home ministry and the minister is Amit Shah. Why will Amit Shah not be interrogated in the same case? My question is to whom the money earned from cattle smuggling with the help of BSF goes to? Is it Amit Shah or his son? Who will ask the question?" asked the Diamond Harbour MP.

The ED arrested the BSF commander Satish Kumar last year for his alleged role in the cattle smuggling case. The central agencies were probing a few other BSF officers too.

Trinamul insiders said Abhishek's attack on Shah willy-nilly revealed his support for Mondal.

"Trinamul can't deny its involvement with cattle smuggling... The agencies arrested a senior BSF officer and suspended many," said state BJP's chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya.