CBI summons TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee’s wife in coal smuggling case

The CBI has summoned TMC MP and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee's wife Rujira Banerjee to join its probe in the alleged coal smuggling case.

A CBI team has reached the residence of TMC MP and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee in Kolkata to summon his wife Rujira Banerjee to join its probe in the alleged coal smuggling case.

This is for the first time that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has landed at Abhishek Banerjee's residence in the coal smuggling case in which the probe agency conducted multiple raids at several locations across Bengal recently.

A telephonic conversation took place between Rujira Banerjee and the CBI team that reached her Kolkata residence. The CBI wants to question Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujra Narula Banarjee on Sunday itself and has asked for time from her.

Sources say, a three-member team of CBI headed by the investigative officer of the case, reached the residence of Abhishek Banerjee to serve summons to his wife and question her. However, she was not present at the residence. India Today has learned that the agency wants to question Rujira today itself and CBI officials have communicated to the family of Abhishek Banarjee.

A summon under section 160 of CrPC was issued to record Rujira's statement at 3 pm. The team is still waiting to question her today itself.

Sources in the CBI claim that the agency, during the investigation of the case, came across the alleged role of Abhishek Banarjee’s wife, based on which they decided to question her. Sources also claim that during recent raids and recording of statements, CBI came across material hinting alleged involvement of Abhishek Banerjee’s wife.

Full faith in law of land, says Abhishek

Taking to Twitter, Abhishek Banerjee said, "At 2pm today, the CBI served a notice in the name of my wife. We have full faith in the law of the land. However, if they think they can use these ploys to intimidate us, they are mistaken. We are not the ones who would ever be cowed down."

CBI investigation in coal smuggling case

CBI carried out searches on Friday at 13 locations in four districts of poll-bound West Bengal in connection with the coal smuggling case. CBI raids were carried out in Purulia, Bankura, Pashchim Bardhaman and Kolkata.

The CBI raids on Friday included premises of Amiya Steel Pvt Ltd in Kolkata and Bankura and that of Joydeb Mandal, the alleged deputy of the suspected kingpin of the racket Anup Manjhi.

It is alleged that accused Manjhi Lala is involved in the illegal mining and theft of coal from leasehold mines of ECL in Kunustoria and Kajora areas, reported PTI.

Earlier, Abhishek Banarjee’s alleged close associate and TMC youth leader Vinay Mishra was raided by CBI and summoned to join the investigation. A non-bailable-warrant and a look-out-circular was also issued against Vinay Mishra when he failed to join investigations even after multiple summons.

The agency on November 28 had raided over 45 places in West Bengal in the illegal coal theft case.

The CBI had lodged an FIR against Anup Manji, Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL), their officials and unknown others for illegally extracting coal from Durgapur-Asansol belt and later from Jharkhand. Apart from Majhi, FIR also names ECL general manager (Kunustoria area) Amit Kumar Dhar, general manager (Kajora area) Jayesh Chandra Rai, chief of security (Asansol) Tanmoy Das and security in-charge (Kajora) Debashish Mukherjee as accused in the case.

Sources say, illegal coal worth crores was smuggled in these border areas with the help of government officials and politicians.

Days later, CBI has now reached the doors of TMC heavyweight and Mamata nephew Abhishek Banerjee, who is at the center of the political debate in Bengal ahead of the elections with many TMC turncoats accusing Mamata of only promoting her nephew while overlooking the state and other TMC leaders.

Investigation picks pace ahead of West Bengal polls

The assembly elections are due in April-May in West Bengal, where the BJP has launched a vigorous campaign to oust the ruling TMC that had secured consecutive wins in 2011 and 2016 under its leader Mamata Banerjee.

Abhishek Banerjee, who is a Lok Sabha member, wields considerable influence in the party and has been leading the Trinamool Congress' counter-attack.

(Correction: A previous version of the report said Abhishek Banerjee has been summoned. The error has been corrected now.)