CBI knocks at Abhishek Banerjee’s home, wife gets notice in coal pilferage case

New Delhi/Kolkata, Feb. 21 (PTI): A CBI team on Sunday went to the Kolkata residence of Abhishek Banerjee, TMC MP and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, serving a notice to his wife Rujira to join the probe in the coal pilferage case, a development that has further raised the political temperature in poll-bound West Bengal.

The team handed over the notice issued by Investigation Officer Umesh Kumar, Additional Superintendent of Police in CBI, in connection with the case of coal pilferage from the mines of Eastern Coalfields Ltd in West Bengal in which Anup Manjhi is the alleged mastermind, sources said.

The notice issued on Sunday asked Rujira Banerjee to remain present at her address on Harish Mukherjee Road on the same day “for the purpose of answering certain questions relating to the case”.

The Trinamool Congress and the BJP targeted each other over the CBI action.

“At 2 PM 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,” Abhishek Banerjee tweeted.

Alleging political vendetta, the Trinamool Congress took a swipe at the ruling BJP at the Centre, saying “CBI is its only ally” that is left now.

The BJP hit out the TMC, accusing it of politicising the matter, and said the law will take its course.

The central probe agency had on Friday carried out a fresh round of searches in connection with the case, they said.

The CBI had registered an FIR in November last year against the alleged kingpin of the pilferage racket Manjhi alias Lala, Eastern Coalfield Ltd General Managers Amit Kumar Dhar (of then Kunustoria area now Pandaveswar area) and Jayesh Chandra Rai (Kajor area) besides ECL Chief of Security Tanmay Das, Area Security Inspector, Kunustoria Dhananjay Rai and SSI and security in-charge Kajor area Debashish Mukherjee.

It is alleged that accused Manjhi Lala is involved in the illegal mining and theft of coal from leasehold mines of ECL in Kunustoria and Kajora areas, the sources said.

The assembly elections are due in April-May in the state where the BJP has launched a vigorous campaign to oust the ruling TMC which had secured consecutive wins in 2011 and 2016 under its leader Mamata Banerjee.

Abhishek Banerjee, Lok Sabha member from Diamond Harbour constituency, wields considerable influence in the party and has been leading the Trinamool Congress’ counter-attack.

Not afraid of anyone, can’t be initimidated with jail — Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday that she is not afraid of anyone and cannot be intimidated with jail or something else.

Holding out a challenge without naming any one or political party, the Trinamool Congress supremo said that they have not learnt to lose.

“Don’t try to intimidate us with jail, we have fought against guns and are not afraid of fighting against rats,” she said.

“As long as there is life in me, I will not be afraid of any intimidation,” Banerjee said at a programme here on the International Mother Language Day.

The chief minister’s programme was after the CBI had served a notice in the name TMC MP and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s wife and sister-in-law Sunday in connection with a case of alleged coal pilferage.

“Let there be challenge in 21, let us see whose strength is more; there will be only one game in 21 and I will be the goalkeeper in that match and want to see who wins and who loses,” Banerjee said.

“We have not learnt to lose and they won’t be able to defeat us,” Banerjee said without naming anyone.

The ruling TMC and the BJP are engaged in a fierce battle for winning the assembly elections in West Bengal expected shortly.