Coal scam probe: CBI team reaches TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee’s residence to serve notice to his wife to join probe

New Delhi: A three-member team of the Central Bureau of Investigation reached the residence of TMC MP and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, in Kolkata to summon his wife Rujira Banerjee to join its probe in the alleged coal smuggling case.

CBI has conducted multiple raids at 13 locations in four districts of West Bengal — Purulia, Bankura, Pashchim Bardhaman and Kolkata recently. This is the first time the agency has land at Abhishek Banerjee’s residence in the coal smuggling case.

This comes just ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections.

Abhishek Banerjee tweeted:

At 2pm today, the CBI served a notice in the name of my wife. We have full faith in the law of the land. However, if they think they can use these ploys to intimidate us, they are mistaken. We are not the ones who would ever be cowed down.

At 2pm today, the CBI served a notice in the name of my wife. We have full faith in the law of the land. However, if they think they can use these ploys to intimidate us, they are mistaken. We are not the ones who would ever be cowed down. pic.twitter.com/U0YB6SC5b8

— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) February 21, 2021

The CBI raids on Friday included premises of Amiya Steel Pvt Ltd in Kolkata and Bankura and that of Joydeb Mandal, the alleged deputy of the suspected kingpin of the racket Anup Manjhi.

In November last year, the CBI had booked Manjhi alias Lala, Eastern Coalfield Ltd General Managers Amit Kumar Dhar and Jayesh Chandra Rai besides ECL Chief of Security Tanmay Das, Area Security Inspector, Kunustoria Dhananjay Rai and SSI and security in-charge Kajor area Debashish Mukherjee.

Mamata took a jibe on Amit Shah

Attacking Union Home Minister Amit Shah over ‘Didi-bhaipo’ (aunt-nephew) jibe, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenged Shah to contest against her nephew and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee and then think about fighting her.

Addressing a public meeting at Pailan here, Banerjee said, “Every day you (Amit Shah) are saying ‘Bhaipo’ (nephew). So, if you have to say ‘Didi’ and nephew, then I challenge Amit Shah to first contest elections against Abhishek Banerjee and then me.” Attacking Amit Shah further, Mamata said, “Your son is also my nephew. How has he become the leader of Cricket? How has he become the owner of hundreds of crores of rupees? Remember your son will not be exempted from the charge of corruption. You cannot hide your son and abuse others. I am challenging you to bring your son into politics.”

Defending Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata said the former is an elected leader by the people and was not sent to Rajya Sabha through a direct entry.