Money Recovered By ED Is Not Mine, Time Will Tell Who Is Conspiring: Partha Chatterjee
The ED on Sunday revealed that two cars — a Mercedes and a Mini Cooper — belonging to Arpita Mukherjee were used by Chatterjee and his aide for joyrides.
New Delhi: Arrested Bengal Minister, Partha Chatterjee in connection with a multi-crore teacher recruitment scam in the state on Sunday claimed that the money recovered by the Enforcement Directorate does not belong to him and that time will tell who are “conspiring” against him, reported news agency PTI. As he deboarded a vehicle after being taken to ESI Hospital at Joka for a medical check-up, and was approached by reporters with questions regarding the scam, Chatterjee said, "The money (recovered) is not mine.” On being asked who was conspiring against him, he said, "You will get to know when the time comes."
The enforcement agency had also arrested Chatterjee's close aide Arpita Mukherjee after crores of rupees in the case were seized from her residence in various parts of Kolkata. The probe agency, while freezing at least five bank accounts of Mukherjee, made a big revelation on Sunday about the missing cars belonging to Mukherjee that the investigators were looking for.
"There were two cars — a Mercedes and a Mini Cooper — belonging to Mukherjee. These vehicles were used by the minister and his aide Mukherjee for joyrides. Inside these two vehicles, she used to have parties," an official told news agency PTI.
Chatterjee used to follow her in another vehicle, and after a point, he used to get inside her vehicle for a joyride, the official said.
Chatterjee on Friday said that he was a victim of a conspiracy and expressed his unhappiness over his party, Trinamool Congress' decision to suspend him. "This decision (to suspend me) could influence an impartial probe…," he had said.
Once considered a close confidante of Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, Chatterjee said that "her decision is right" over his suspension from the party. Chatterjee, 69, was relieved of his duties as minister-in-charge of various departments and suspended from the TMC on Thursday. He was also removed from all party posts.
The TMC leadership has taken exception to his comments, contending that Chatterjee was himself responsible for his fate.
"Why was he silent for the last few days after his arrest? He has every right to approach the court and prove his innocence. The party has nothing to do with this scam," TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh had said on Thursday.
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