Friday, Apr 26, 2024 | Last Update : 11:39 PM IST
PNB scam is just the tip of the iceberg, says Mamata Banerjee
The ED carried out raida at Gitanjali Jewels stores owned by Mehul Choksi, another accused in the PNB scam, in the city.
Kolkata: Training guns on the Modi government once again CM Mamata Banerjee on Sunday described the Rs 11,000 crore PNB scam as the “tip of the iceberg.” Without taking the name of absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi she complained that the bank fraud took place during the Centre’s demonetisation in November, 2016 when, according to her, the huge amount of money was laundered.
Alleging the transfer of “key bank officials” the Trinamul Congress supremo questioned the profile of their successors. She even predicted the involvement of more banks while demanding the revelation of the truth.
In the morning Ms Banerjee tweeted, “This is just the tip of the iceberg. This big banking fraud was fuelled at the time of #DeMonetisation. Big money laundering happened during DeMo. Key bank officials were changed. Who are these people put in? There are more banks involved. The full truth must come out.”
This is however not the first time Ms Banejree attacked the BJP government at the Centre questioning its role since the PNB scam came to light.
Only three days ago she alleged in twitter, “Those who have Kisan Credit Cards and are entitled to loans are being denied loans. And yet some VIP bank customers are looting this country. The self-help groups, those who run small businesses, and other commoners, are deprived of loans. And yet, special people are being given thousands of crores of rupees. Why this fraud? Why this fraud?”
According to Trinamul insiders, the PNB scam has come as a shot in the arm of the ruling party on the ahead of the panchayat elections to fight the BJP which is gradually becoming the face of the opposition with the rise in their votebank in the districts posing a concern for Ms Banerjee.
Sources revealed that the Trinamul is likely to highlight the scam and Nirav Modi’s escape from the country under the nose of the BJP government to the people during poll campaign. Meanwhile, the ED carried out raida at Gitanjali Jewels stores owned by Mehul Choksi, another accused in the PNB scam, in the city.
In the morning separate ED teams raided six locations including five shopping malls at Elgin Road, Kasba, Jadavpur, Salt Lake and New Town. They examined the transaction documents and seized some of them. Employees of the stores were questioned also. On Saturday, the central agency raided and sealed a store in Durgapur.
