With two Trinamool Congress, and one senior BJP leader arrested in Bengal recently, the state is witnessing a distinct pattern among political opponents using the police and courts to settle scores. Is Is this vendetta politics, or just incidental?
In the past few weeks, Trinamool Congress legislators Tapas Pal and Sudip Bandopadhyay were arrested by the CBI in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam.
On the other side of the spectrum, BJP's vice president from Bengal, Joy Prakash Majumdar, has been arrested by the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate under the West Bengal police in a case of alleged cheating. The complaint against Majumdar was filed about six months ago by an individual representing a group of examinees of the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) for primary sections. The complainant alleged that Majumdar took over Rs 7 lakh from the examinees, making promises he did not fulfil.
Ghosh said he is planning to send legal notice against some TMC leaders, including functionaries of the Kharagpur municipality, who publicly took his name in local television channels in connection with Naidu's murder.
Meanwhile, the name of the state BJP president, Dilip Ghosh, has been dragged in the murder case of Trinamool Congress strongman from Kharagpur, Srinu Naidu (Srinu's wife has spoken to a local television channel accusing Ghosh of once threatening her husband). While no official action has been initiated against Ghosh yet, sources say there is a distinct possibility that he may be called for interrogation soon.
Ghosh said he is planning to send legal notice against some TMC leaders, including functionaries of the Kharagpur municipality, who publicly took his name in local television channels in connection with Naidu's murder.
Significantly, sources say that complaints are likely to be filed against some top BJP leaders looking after the party's activities in Bengal, or, the police are likely to act in complaints against BJP leaders filed earlier.
Many more names from Trinamool too are going to be dragged in complaints in the near future, sources say.
Trinamool Congress chief and Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, has already accused the BJP of using the CBI to attack and humiliate her because she is protesting the demonetisation issue. She had herself named some of her own party colleagues who may be called by the central investigating agency. Banerjee added that some of her sources in the Central government had disclosed these names to her.
Trinamool Congress MLA Mahuya Moitra, meanwhile, has lodged a complaint against BJP MP Babul Supriyo at the Alipore police station in Kolkata in connection with a show on national television where Supriyo allegedly insulted her. A case under Section 509 of the IPC (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) was started against Supriyo.
Supriyo on his part, has sent a legal notice to three Trinamool Congress leaders – Pal (who has been arrested by the CBI in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam case), Sougata Roy and Moitra – all of these on different issues.
"Don't look for any pattern in these complaints. These are not in retaliation to the CBI arrests of our party leaders. Those [in the BJP] who have done some misdeeds have themselves invited police complaints and police action.
Recently, senior Trinamool Congress leader Chandrima Bhattacharya lodged a complaint against the CBI (in the first week of January) in Anandapur police station of Kolkata in connection with Sudip Bandopadhyay's arrest. Bandopadhyay's wife Nayna (a Trinamool Congress MLA) had also lodged a police complaint with the Salt Lake police on the same day against the CBI, alleging that the family members were not informed where he was being taken by the CBI after his arrest. Hours after his arrest, Bandopadhyay was taken to Bhubaneswar.
"Don't look for any pattern in these complaints. These are not in retaliation to the CBI arrests of our party leaders. Those (in the BJP) who have done some misdeeds have themselves invited police complaints and police action," said senior Trinamool Congress leader, Partha Chatterjee. He pointed out that the complaint against Joy Prakash Majumdar wasn't filed by Trinamool Congress leaders.
Meanwhile, Ghosh told HuffPost India, "Since their (Trinamool Congress) leaders are being summoned and arrested by the CBI, the ruling party in Bengal has no other option but to blame us. Now, they want to keep us under pressure in Bengal. That is the reason why such complaints are being filed against us. But we are not buckling under pressure."