Kolkata, Nov 4 West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday alleged that former CM Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee siphoned off state revenue, claiming that the seizure of over Rs 1 crore from a rebel TMC MLA’s office in Diamond Harbour was merely “the tip of the iceberg”.
Referring to the cash seizure from the office of Magrahat Paschim MLA Samim Ahamed in South 24 Parganas district, Adhikari alleged that money meant for the state exchequer was diverted to TMC offices and later siphoned off abroad.
“It’s just a tip of the iceberg,” he said at a late-night press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna, claiming that police had gathered evidence and those responsible would face action.
Citing revenue figures, Adhikari said the state collected Rs 37,281 crore between April 1 and October 31 this year, against Rs 33,788 crore during the corresponding period last year.
He claimed the increase of nearly Rs 3,500 crore could not be attributed to fresh auctions of stone or sand mines, alleging that this additional revenue had last year gone to members of the former chief minister’s family and their associates.
The allegations came hours after the police seized nearly Rs 1.03 crore during a raid at Ahamed’s party office in Sarisha locality of Diamond Harbour.
Adhikari claimed that despite no fresh auctions of stone or sand mines, the state’s revenue collection had increased.
“If this is the figure for six months, the increase could be Rs 7,000-8,000 crore when the figures for the full 12 months are available. Going by these calculations, nearly Rs 4,000 crore in additional revenue was also collected last year,” he said.
“Where did this money go? It went to a person in the former chief minister’s family who was responsible for collections and his associates. The money stolen from state revenue was siphoned off abroad,” he alleged.
He further claimed that the group had invested large sums in companies and real estate, and acquired land through benami transactions. Police had gathered information about these properties, he said.
On the Diamond Harbour seizure, he said, “I believe they may have forgotten to take this money with them. It was a misfire.”
Adhikari alleged that the group was involved in post-Cyclone Amphan relief irregularities, corruption in the Sebashray initiative, extortion, job-for-cash rackets and illegal occupation of government land.
Referring to former Falta strongman Jahangir Khan, accused of forcibly occupying land, he said the government was taking steps to clear the encroachments and restore the land to the poor.
Adhikari reiterated that strict action would be taken against those accused.
A police officer said the raid in Diamond Harbour followed information obtained during the interrogation of Sumit Roy, an arrested aide of local TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee.
Diamond Harbour Additional SP Abhishek Majumdar confirmed the seizure and identified the premises as Ahamed’s office.
Roy, who is in police custody in a case related to alleged financial irregularities, is being questioned about the transactions, police sources said.
Ahamed, elected on a TMC ticket, has since joined the rebel faction of the party’s legislative wing led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
The Mamata-led TMC faction accused the state government of planting evidence and fabricating information by misusing the state machinery. Ahamed and the rebel faction did not respond to the seizure.
(PTI News)
