‘Can’t be threatened by ED or CBI just because I attacked Amit Shah’s son over national flag issue’
‘Can’t be threatened by ED or CBI just because I attacked Amit Shah’s son over national flag issue’
Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday hit out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah after being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the coal theft scam.
Mr Banerjee appeared before the ED at the agency’s office in Kolkata and was questioned for nearly six hours. After leaving the central agency’s office, the Trinamool general secretary spoke to media persons for about 45 minutes. Mr. Banerjee said he has been questioned thrice by the central investigative agencies and his wife (Rujira Banerjee) has been summoned thrice.
“After six times and around 60 hours of questioning, the result was zero… I have appeared thrice and am ready to face questioning 30 times, but I will not bow my head before the BJP,” Banerjee said. “Just because I attacked Amit Shah’s son over the issue of national flag, I cannot be threatened by ED or CBI,” the Trinamool leader said. Mr Banerjee had criticized BCCI secretary Jay Shah for turning down the offer to hoist the national flag on August 30.
Central investigative agencies had started the investigation into the coal theft scam in 2020. The scam involved illegal mining in the leasehold mines of Eastern Coalfields (ECL) and misappropriation for sale and supply from coal stocks standing in railway sidings. The CBI had filed a chargesheet in July 2022 against 41 people in the scam, including public servants of ECL and former Trinamool student leader Vinay Mishra. Though the Trinamool general secretary was questioned by the CBI, his name is not mentioned in the chargesheet.
Mr. Banerjee urged the media not to describe the scam as a coal theft scam. “This is not a coal smuggling or cattle smuggling scam, it is a Home Ministry scam. How can coal and cattle smuggling take place without the cooperation of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Trinamool leader said that since the BJP is unable to take on the Trinamool politically, they are using central probe agencies. “Why are CBI raids not conducted in BJP ruled states and agencies active in opposition ruled states?” He asked.
The development assumes significance as it comes at a time when the Trinamool government is feeling the heat after the arrest of two veteran party leaders Partha Chatterjee and Anubrata Mondal by central probe agencies.
Mr Banerjee also alleged that BJP’s Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had spoken to Mr Mishra over phone about six to eight months ago and assured him of help. Mr. Mishra is absconding since his name in the scam and central agencies have issued a look out notice against him.
Mr Adhikari said the allegations leveled by Mr Banerjee were “baseless” and added that claims made by someone who is himself being investigated should not be taken seriously.