Kolkata: Reacting to the detention of Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira Banerjee after stopping her from boarding a Dubai-bound flight, CM Mamata Banerjee today said that this is nothing but harassment by the central agencies.
“It is unfortunate what the ED and CBI are doing. They are harassing people. Abhishek Banerjee’s mother-in-law is unwell, and hence her wife was travelling to meet her mother. The Supreme Court had said that if she were to leave the city, she could inform the ED and do so, which she did well in advance. But summoning her at the airport itself, is nothing but harassment,” said Mamata Banerjee
Senior Trinamool Congress leader and CM Mamatas’ nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira Banerjee stopped from boarding a Dubai-bound flight by the immigration department at Subhash Chandra Bose Airport in Kolkata on Sunday around 7 pm. Rujira had both of her children, a son and a daughter, at the Airport as well.
The immigration department cited a lookout notice by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that asked Rujira Banerjee to appear before the agency on June 8. She is being investigated by ED for her alleged involvement in the Bengal coal smuggling scam along with other members of Abhishek Banerjee’s family.
According to the lawyer of Rujira Banerjee, she had informed the agency about the in prior.
“If I had malafide intentions, I wouldn’t have informed them,” Abhishek Banerjee said making it clear that there is no restriction on foreign visits as per the order of the Supreme Court.
Reacting to the incident, Abhishek Banerjee said it has violated the Supreme Court’s order that stated there was no foreign travel restriction on the couple.
…will not bow to anyone: Abhishek Banerjee
In a press conference in Singur in Hooghly district, Mr Banerjee said, “I dare the ED to arrest me or my wife if they have any proof of corruption. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP can’t fight us politically, so they are harassing us. If they want, they can also arrest my kids”
Taking on PM Modi and BJP, Abhishek Banerjee said: “I will not bow my head before anyone apart from the masses. The ED has summoned my wife, as they (BJP) want this outreach campaign to stop.”
Bengal coal smuggling scam
According to the Enforcement Directorate, Abhishek Banerjee and members of his family have a connection with the coal smuggling case. Two companies, Leap and Bound PVT LTD and Leap and Bound Management Service received funding from a construction family through the accused, who are being probed.
The Director of Leaps and Bound Pvt Ltd is Abhishek Banerjee’s Father, Amit Banerjee and the director of Leap and Bound Management Services Limited is Abhishek Banerjee’s wife, Rujira Banerjee. They both are two of those accused in the case that ED is investigating.
Today BJP responded to the incident saying it has nothing to do with the CBI or Ed.
“The BJP has nothing to do with the CBI or ED. The allegations are baseless. If they have any complaints, they can always move court,” BJP leader Rahul Sinha said.
Mr Banerjee is visiting different parts of Bengal with his “Trinamooley Nebajowar”(New Wave in Trinamool) campaign keeping in mind the upcoming panchayat elections. Abhishek Banerjee claims that the BJP is doing all this to stop his outreach campaign ahead of the panchayat elections in West Bengal.