The Enforcement Directorate (ED) collected Rs 1.5 crore from a Kolkata businessman in connection with a multi-crore coal-smuggling case on Thursday, news agency ANI reported.
The BJP reacted angrily to the cash discovery, with state president Sukanta Majumdar charging that the businessman has direct ties to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
He also accused the chief minister and the leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress of being complicit in the alleged coal scam.
Addressing the media, Majumdar said, “The ED, in a press briefing, mentioned two businessmen, one of whom is Manjeet Singh Grewal alias Jitti Bhaiii. Mamata Banerjee has direct relations with him. He has been seen with Mamta and her family members on multiple occasions. The money recovered is connected with the coal scam in West Bengal."
The BJP state head requested that the ED conduct an investigation into the recovery under judicial supervision and that the identities of all those engaged in the coal scam be exposed.
Previously, on January 13, a preliminary medical report on the health of Gurupada Maji, an accused in the suspected West Bengal coal mining and money laundering case, was filed by the medical board at Safdarjung hospital.
Majumdar said that his automobile was assaulted by persons waving TMC flags.
“They tried to attack me and break my car. Thankfully, I had security escorts with me and escaped unhurt. The attackers were holding TMC flags. Is the TMC giving flags to others? There’s no democracy in West Bengal. We’ll continue our fight against this government,” the BJP Chief was quoted by ANI in its report.
“They came to kill me thinking that if I am killed then BJP will cease to exist in West Bengal. But there are thousands of Sukanta Majumdars in the BJP and it’s not possible to finish the BJP by finishing me off,” he added.
A CBI team visited Abhishek's home on February 21, 2021, and summoned his wife Rujira and his sister-in-law Menaka Gambhir in connection with the suspected coal fraud.
Anup Majhi alias Lala, a local coal operator, is said to be the main suspect in the case.
The ED stated that Abhishek benefited from the proceeds of this unlawful trade.
(With Inputs From ANI)