Friday, Apr 26, 2024 | Last Update : 01:39 AM IST
Top CBI officer in city to probe Ponzi cases, kicks off row
The CPI(M) called it a fall-out of understanding between the Trinamul and BJP.
Kolkata: A political slugfest erupted between the ruling Trinamul Congress and Opposition parties in the state over the visit of special director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Rakesh Ashthana, to Kolkata.
The senior IPS officer of the Gujarat cadre arrived the city on Tuesday to supervise the investigation of chit fund cases, including Saradha, Rose Valley and Narada scam.
He will hold a meeting with the investigating officers of the chit fund cases at CGO Complex in Salt Lake to take stock of progress of the investigation in presence of senior officials of the Kolkata branch of the CBI on Wednesday, sources revealed.
The Trinamul Congress accused the BJP of intimidation, a charge denied by the BJP. The CPI(M) called it a fall-out of understanding between the Trinamul and BJP.
“When the election knocks at the door, the Central government tries to activate its investigative agencies. But the CBI officers also understand what should be done and what should not be done. Let him come. But it should be kept in mind that the massive popularity the political masters at the centre got to come to power in 2014 has faded away in 2018,” Trinamul secretary general Partha Chatterjee said, referring to the Lok Sabha Elections next year.
Refuting his allegation BJP leader Pratap Banerjee argued, “The CBI will work according to its framework. There is no relation between the CBI and the BJP. The BJP will move ahead with its policy. It is a fact that we had gheraoed the CBI office here so that those who have been deprived get justice. So as a political party we will continue to work for the people without caring of what is the CBI or not.”
CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty reasoned, “There was a bonhomie between the BJP and Trinamul in 2014 due to the Lok Sabha Elections. They will have to give an answer to the public. The Delhiwalas has knowingly made an arrangement to save chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her party. Both sides will pretend to be at war against each other to keep the vote interests intact.”
State Congress president and party MP Adhir Chowdhury complained, “This nothing but a flip-flop strategy to manage the government at the Centre. When it is managed, the probe comes to a halt. When it is not managed, the agencies wake up. But be it Sarada or Narada or Rose Valley, they are scams in fact. We want the truth be revealed.”
