News Analysis India

Tag: West Bengal

  • Post-poll violence in Bengal: CBI registers two murder cases, another for ‘outraging woman’s modesty’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has registered two murder cases and a case of outraging the modesty of a woman during post-poll violence in West Bengal, taking the total number of such cases registered by the central agency to 43, officials said on Wednesday.

    The first case pertains to allegations that the accused had attacked a family in the Golf Green police station area of Kolkata and mercilessly beaten up the family members with bamboo sticks, iron rods, blades etc. on May 16, the officials said.

    The victims had to undergo treatment, they added.

    Later, one of the victims approached the court seeking to invoke sections 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the case, which was allowed by the court.

    Following the court’s directives, police had added the two charges in the FIR, the officials said.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also taken over the investigation in two murder cases, they added.

    One of the case was earlier being probed by the Amdanga police in North 24 Parganas district, which had allegedly registered a case of unnatural death of the victim whose body was found hanging on May 10.

    “It was alleged that the accused killed the victim (the husband of the complainant),” CBI Spokesperson Joshi said.

    The alleged role of a state minister in influencing the police probe is under scanner following a complaint by a local BJP leader who had claimed that the case was hushed up as unnatural death but the victim was killed, sources said.

    In the other case, it was alleged that a mob went to the victim’s residence on April 27 and forcibly took him to Gangarampur Kaldighi.

    “It was further alleged that the victim was then attacked by the accused with iron rods, bamboo sticks and other dangerous weapons and was left severely wounded. The victim was admitted to the Gangarampur Kaldighi Hospital but he succumbed to his injuries on April 29,” Joshi said.

  • Coal Scam: Delhi High Court exempts physical presence of Rujira Banerjee before trial court in ED case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Monday exempted for the time being the physical appearance of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira Banerjee before a trial court in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal.

    The trial court in Delhi had directed her to appear before it personally on October 12. The high court said it will hear on October 29, the plea filed by Rujira Banerjee challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s complaint filed in the case, the trial court order taking cognizance of that complaint and the subsequent issuance of a summons for physical appearance.

    Justice Yogesh Khanna granted Rujira Banerjee’s exemption from personal appeaCoal scamrance for the time being after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Enforcement Directorate, urged the court to take up her plea for hearing after the Dussehra break.

    “Till then, the lady client (Rujira) may not appear in person,” said the Solicitor General. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Rujira Banerjee, prayed that her client be allowed to appear through her lawyer before the trial court.

    “List on October 29. Meanwhile, the petitioner will appear before the trial court through counsel,” the judge ordered.

    On September 30, after she appeared virtually in relation to the complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma directed her physical presence on October 12, while granting her exemption from the personal appearance for the day.

    Rujira Banerjee has contended that the Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s complaint against her is arbitrary, false, vexatious and an abuse of the process of law.

    The complaint has been filed to harass and cause prejudice to her and her family, the petition contended.

    “A bare perusal of the impugned complaint confirms that the respondent agency (ED) falsely averred that petitioner had not complied with its illegal summonses (issued by ED). Owing to the fact that she is a mother of two young children and a resident of Kolkata, the petitioner has repeatedly requested that she be examined at her residence in Kolkata.

    “The fact that the petitioner was in constant dialogue with the respondent in relation to the aforementioned summons clearly shows that there was no intention on the part of the petitioner to disobey the same,” the petition said.

    It further argued that the trial court took cognizance and issued a summons on the complaint in a mechanical manner and without application of mind.

    “The Ld. CMM failed to appreciate that not only were the notices in question illegal and in excess of jurisdiction, but furthermore the mode of service i.e., email to a third party, of summons dated 18.08.2021 at the first instance is contrary to law and cannot be held against the Petitioner,” it said.

    The couple has already approached the high court for quashing of summons issued to them by the ED for questioning in the case.

    On September 21, the court had refused to grant any interim relief in relation to the ED summons.

    The 33-year-old MP, who is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee, represents the Diamond Harbour seat in Lok Sabha and is the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

    The ED lodged a case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on the basis of a November 2020 FIR registered by the CBI that alleged a multi-crore coal pilferage scam related to Eastern Coalfields Ltd mines in the state’s Kunustoria and Kajora areas in and around Asansol.

    Local coal operative Anup Majhi alias Lala is alleged to be the prime suspect in the case. The ED had earlier claimed that Abhishek Banerjee was a beneficiary of funds obtained from this illegal trade. He has denied all charges.

  • Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Instead of Ram raj, killing raj going on in Uttar Pradesh, says Mamata Banerjee

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday attacked BJP governments at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh over the death of farmers during a protest , claiming that “autocracy” prevails in the country and “killing Raj” is going on in that state.

    Eight people were killed – four farmers were allegedly run over and four people in a convoy of BJP workers who were lynched – on Sunday as violence erupted during a farmers’ protest in Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh.

    ALSO READ: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on ‘hunger strike’ following detention

    “What is going on in the country is not democracy but autocracy. Farmers were brutally butchered, and they (BJP) didn’t want the truth to come out. That is why they have imposed Section 144 (CrPC) there. People will impose Section 144 on them in the days to come. They are stopping delegations from visiting the locals there,” she told reporters after visiting a Gurudwara in Bhabanipur, her assembly constituency.

    When asked if she feels that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should resign over the law and order situation, Banerjee said, “Killing Raj is going on, instead of Ram Rajya as promised by them”.

  • Is Mamata Banerjee the real target for BJP behind Shah Rukh Khan’s son arrest in drug case

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Opposition leaders called the raid conducted at a cruise off the Mumbai coast as politically motivated to dampen the resounding victory of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in bypolls. They also alleged that the arrest of Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son is indirectly targetted at Mamata as SRK is the Brand Ambassador of West Bengal.

    The Special Court of the Narcotic Control Bureau of India on Sunday gave one day remand to Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in a drug-related case.

    Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that at Gujarat port, 3000 tonnes of heroin worth Rs 20,000 crore were found out, but there has been no breakthrough in that case by the central probe agency.

    “However, in the alleged rave party on the cruise, negligible amounts of drug was found, but there is so much hype and media attention added to the filmy style actions of NCB. It shows the NCB was sleeping when Rs 20,000 crore worth drugs was brought in India but makes big drama for few grams of drugs. If the investigative agencies are serious and independent, then they should find out the culprit in the Gujarat port drug case. Why are they dragging feet there because the port is owned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi friend Gautam Adani,” Sawant questioned.

    Sources said that Mamata Banerjee is a promising candidate for the Prime Ministerial post for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. “The BJP could not defeat her in elections and therefore they are using the central probe agencies to target the people who are close to her. Film star Shah Rukh Khan is the Brand Ambassador of West Bengal. So, this is an indirect attack on Mamata Banerjee and West Bengal through the arrest of Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan. BJP plays politics at different levels,” the source added.

    Shah Rukh Khan was close to Congress leaders when it was in government during UPA I and the second time. After the BJP government came to power in the Centre since 2014, the Bollywood superstar has neither shown any inclination nor made any political statements in favour of any political parties..But his proximity with the West Bengal chief minister increased as he owns the Kolkata Knight Rider cricket team in IPL. 

  • What was the real reason behind SRK’s son’s arrest in drugs case? Opposition leader floats a theory

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Was Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan’s arrest politically motivated? Was he unfairly targetted despite an almost negligible haul of drugs? Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant has raised these questions while also asking if the Narcotics Control Bureau wasn’t making “big drama for a few grams of drugs”.

    Sawant’s questions come after the Special Court of the Narcotics Control Bureau of India on Sunday handed a one-day remand to Aryan Khan in the drug-related case. Aryan’s remand was extended till October 7 on Monday.

    Sawant said that at a Gujarat port, 3000 tonnes of heroin worth Rs 20,000 crore had been discovered, but no breakthrough has been made in that case by the central probe agency yet.

    “However, in the alleged rave party on the cruise, negligible amounts of drugs were found, but there is so much hype and media attention added to the filmi style actions of the NCB. It shows the NCB was sleeping when Rs 20,000 crore worth drugs was brought to India but makes big drama for a few grams of drugs. If the investigative agencies are serious and independent, then they should find out the culprit in the Gujarat port drug case. Why are they dragging feet there because the port is owned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi friend Gautam Adani?” Sawant asked.

    ALSO WATCH |

  • EC asks Bengal chief secy to ensure no celebration over Bhawanipore bypoll results

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The Election Commission on Sunday afternoon directed West Bengal Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi to ensure that no celebrations take place over poll results amid fears of violence.

    In a letter, the EC said the state government must ensure that adequate steps are taken so that no post-poll violence happens.

    “No victory celebrations/ procession during/after the counting shall be allowed in the ongoing elections in West Bengal, for which counting is being taken place on October 3, 2021,” EC secretary Rakesh Kumar said in the letter.

    “All necessary actions must be taken to ensure the strict compliance of Commission’s direction where in all such activities have already been prohibited in view of pandemic. Further, state government must ensure that adequate steps are taken so that no post poll violence takes place,” he added.

    The EC asked Dwivedi to ensure strict compliance with the directions.

    The letter came as TMC workers across the state hit the streets to celebrate the massive lead Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee received in the Bhabanipur by-election.

    The party’s candidates in Jangipur and Samserganj assembly were also ahead of their rivals, adding to the revelry.

    BJP’s Priyanka Tibrewal, Banerjee’s rival in the Bhabanipur seat, had on Saturday night written to the Acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Rajesh Bindal, urging him to give orders to the police to take preventive steps to avoid incidents of violence after the results are declared.

  • Bhowanipore poll fight to set BJP’s West Bengal template

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Seeking to put up a spirited contest against Mamata Banerjee in the Bhowanipore bypoll, the BJP plans to build a future template of its strategy in West Bengal by establishing personal connect with the electorate.

    BJP state vice-president Dilip Ghosh and his successor Sukanta Majumdar consulted senior leaders on Tuesday on the future road map. With the BJP keeping away outsiders as part of a new strategy, the state leaders were told to establish personal connect with the electorate. 

    In line with the strategy, a BJP leader said Union minister Subhash Sarkar is leading a campaign to reach out to the electorate through letters, seeking support for party candidate Priyanka Tibrewal, who is up against the might of the Bengal chief minister. 

    The BJP, on the other hand, continued putting up demands to the Election Commission for taking up steps to stop the alleged instances of intimidation of its workers in the state. On Tuesday, Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav and Anurag Thakur led a delegation to the Election Commission and sought patrol and area domination by security personnel with immediate effect. They also urged the EC to ensure that the measures were further strengthened on the day of polling.

    The BJP delegation also sought deployment of at least 40 CAPF companies or more in Bhowanipore to ensure that every booth is covered, while also seeking that the local police or their home guards or any variant thereof must not be deployed for poll duty.

    The BJP also requested the Commission that Section 144 of CrPC be imposed on the day of polling (September 30). Another demand was that special attention be paid to the well-being of the persons in high rise buildings, as such areas often are targeted for intimidation by workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress.

    Parties fret over date

    Major political parties in West Bengal, barring the Trinamool Congress, said that the Election Commission had not taken into account the festive season when fixing the bypoll date

    SC notice to Centre on post-poll violence

    NEW DELHI: West Bengal has ‘made out’ a case for issuance of notices, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday while seeking responses from the Centre and others on the Trinamool government’s appeal against the Calcutta High Court order directing court- monitored CBI probe into the heinous cases of rape and murder during the post-poll violence in the eastern state. 

  • Calcutta HC dismisses petition on Bhawanipore bypoll, to be held as scheduled

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition on the by-election to the Bhawanipore Assembly seat, ordering that polls will be held as scheduled on September 30.

    A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice R Bharadwaj said that it was inappropriate on the part of the West Bengal chief secretary to have written such a letter in which he had appealed to the election commission for holding the by-election at Bhawanipore.

    The court dismissed the PIL in which the language used to seek the bypoll was challenged. The chief secretary had in the letter said that a “constitutional crisis” would occur if the by-election to Bhawanipore was not held.

    Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting from the Bhawanipore seat.

  • Bhawanipore bypoll: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s desperation aimed at protecting image

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s aggressive campaign for the by-election in Bhawanipore, despite being termed by the BJP as a reflection of her “desperation”, is said to be aimed at protecting her popular image.

    Sources in the ruling party said that the West Bengal CM had issued a dictate to party leaders to increase her victory margin. Sovandeb Chattopadhyay won from here by a margin of 28,719 votes, while in 2016 assembly elections, Mamata had won by 25,301 votes. “If she gets one vote less than Chattopadhyay’s margin, BJP will get a chance to raise questions on the CM’s popularity,” said a senior TMC leader. 

    For the last one week, Mamata, has been holding back-to-back rallies in the constituency, aiming to woo the diverse electorate. Observers in Bengal’s political circle said such aggressive campaign by a chief minister in a by-election is unprecedented.

    “The ruling party is always in advantageous position in any by-election. The TMC is definitely much ahead of the BJP since it secured a victory with thumping majority in the assembly elections. The CM returned to her erstwhile constituency after being defeated in Nandigram and her desperation appears to be an effort to ensure victory with a record margin,” said Dr Bishnupriya Dutta Gupta, a political science professor.

    In all her campaigns, Mamata has made it clear that she is counting on each and every vote in the constituency. 

    Fist fight by TMC, BJP supporters at campaign climax

    The last-hour campaign in Bhawanipore by-election witnessed a scuffle between BJP and TMC supporters, forcing a policeman to take out his firearm from holster. In the fisticuff, one BJP supporter received injuies on his head.  The incident took place at Jagubabu Bazar.

  • Bhawanipore bypoll: BJP demands Section 144, deployment of central forces for polling day

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: A BJP delegation met the West Bengal chief electoral officer on Monday and demanded deployment of central paramilitary forces at every polling booth and promulgation of Section 144 Cr PC in Bhawanipore constituency in the city during the by-poll on September 30 in view of the alleged attack on party leaders during the day and earlier.

    The BJP delegation also demanded that the CEO Aarif Aftab disallow Kolkata Police from having direct control to maintain law and order in the constituency on the polling day to ensure free and fair poll.

    Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta, who led the delegation, told reporters the BJP delegation informed the CEO how the party’s Barrackpore MP Arjun Singh was heckled near Hanuman Mandir in Bhawanipore during the day and had to return without campaigning. “In a second incident, our former state president Dilip Ghosh was attacked by the same people who enjoyed the patronage of a family in the area. We have reported it to the CEO,” he said.

    ALSO READ| Poll campaigning comes to an end in Bengal amid scuffles between Trinamool, BJP

    Campaigning for the by-poll, in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is a candidate, came to an end on Monday and was marked by rising of political temperatures.

    The BJP MP said it was seen whenever there is a possibility of high voter turnout, the TMC resorts to such terror tactics. “We therefore urged the CEO to ensure that central forces are deployed in each booth and section 144 CRPC is enforced in the entire constituency,” he said.

    Asked about Ghosh’s demand for countermanding the by-poll in Bhawanipore, Dasgupta said “We want free and fair polls. What Dilip Ghosh said about countermanding Bhawanipore by-poll till the situation in the constituency returns to normal is based on his apprehension and real perception about the scope of holding free and fair polls.”

    “We want the Election Commission to take steps to instill confidence among people about holding elections without fear. We asked the chief electoral officer to see that the Kolkata Police is not in direct charge of holding polls,” he said.

    BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh was on Monday pushed and heckled by alleged TMC supporters, prompting his security officer to whip out a pistol in Bhawanipore assembly constituency. The EC sought a report on the incident from the state.

    Party MP Arjun Singh faced ‘go-back’ slogans from the ruling TMC workers while soliciting votes for party candidate Pryanka Tibrewal. The incident involving Ghosh occurred when he inside a vaccination camp in Jodubabur Bazaar area in the constituency.

    ALSO READ| BJP’s Dilip Ghosh pushed and heckled in Bhowanipore by alleged TMC workers, EC seeks report

    TMC supporters present at the spot shouted slogans demanding that he leave, alleging that he was campaigning at a state-run vaccination programme which was not permitted. Ghosh was whisked away by his security guards.

    He later alleged TMC supporters “attacked” him without provocation and injured a BJP activist. Dasgupta said the CEO’s office was asked to ensure live streaming through weblink of the entire constituency for immediate action by central forces.