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KOLKATA: A dry Monday night in Kolkata saw an unusual security sight as Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee entered former chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence carrying an umbrella, days after a series of egg attacks targeting senior TMC leaders triggered security concerns within the party.Private security personnel were seen standing with black umbrellas around Banerjee as a precautionary measure to prevent any similar incident after the recent attack on TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh. The umbrella cover drew attention as the TMC leadership faced a wave of protests and attacks following the party’s poll defeat in West Bengal.
On Tuesday, Abhishek Banerjee appeared before officers of the West Bengal CID over his alleged inflammatory statements during the Assembly election campaigning.The TMC leader had successive marathon interrogation sessions with the CID and ED on Sunday and Monday and on Tuesday, in connection with the alleged forgery of MLAs' signatures and the alleged primary school job scam, respectively. Last Thursday, he was grilled by the CID in connection with the signature forgery case.The FIR against Banerjee over his alleged inflammatory statements was lodged exactly a month ago, based on a complaint filed by social activist Rajib Sarkar at Baguiati Police Station in North 24 Parganas district on May 5, a day after the assembly election results were declared.
It was alleged that the TMC national general secretary made provocative comments on post-poll violence and the vote counting process, a senior officer said.The complainant accused Banerjee of delivering inflammatory speeches during several election-related programmes between April 27 and May 3."He alleged that certain remarks made during public meetings were provocative in nature and had the potential to disturb public order and communal harmony," the police officer had said.‘Questioned for 11 hours’On Monday, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with the alleged teacher recruitment scam, and said that the probe agency questioned him for 11 hours.Speaking to the media after the questioning, Banerjee said that he would not cower down and would appear before the agency if he is summoned in the future. The TMC leader also slammed the BJP, accusing it of breaking the regional party and indulging in post-poll violence."I was questioned for 8-8.30 hours yesterday and for 11 hours today. This is a 2023 case, and I have appeared before the agency 10-12 times. I won't say whether there is political pressure or not. The less it is said about the BJP, the better it is. On one side, they break our party and indulge in post-poll violence. Even if you slit my throat, I won't cower down. I will appear before the agency if they summon me even in the future," he said.Banerjee was summoned for questioning in connection with the alleged multi-crore Primary Teachers Recruitment scam in West Bengal.Earlier this month, the TMC MP was summoned and asked to appear before the central agency to join the ongoing investigation. The summons is part of the ED's probe into alleged irregularities in the recruitment process of primary teachers, which has been under scrutiny for suspected financial misconduct and procedural violations.The move comes five months after ED's Kolkata zonal office in January this year attached immovable properties having a total value of approximately Rs 57.78 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the West Bengal Central School Service Commission (SSC) Assistant Teacher Recruitment Scam (Classes IX to XII).(With agency inputs)
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