Calcutta HC raises questions about the reasons for Abhishek Banerjee’s reluctance in facing the investigation into the matter
On Thursday upholding a previous order, the Calcutta High Court empowered the central agencies to question Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in connection with the multi-crore school recruitment scam in West Bengal.
The single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha also allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to question expelled youth Trinamool Congress leader Kuntal Ghosh in connection with his allegations accusing the central agencies of putting pressure on him to name Abhishek Banerjee in the case.
During the course of the hearing last week, Justice Sinha raised questions about the reasons for the petitioner’s reluctance in facing the investigation into the matter.
Observing that the petitioner should cooperate in the investigation process, she also observed that no one is above investigation.
“Let the investigating agency decide who is involved and who is not. The legal system is above all. Everyone should cooperate in the process of investigation,” Justice Sinha had observed earlier.
Abhishek Banerjee’s name surfaced after Kuntal Ghosh wrote letters to a local police station as well as to the judge of a lower court accusing central agencies of putting pressure on him to name the Trinamool general secretary in the scam.
Justice Sinha has imposed a penalty of Rs.25 lakhs each on Banerjee and Ghosh.
Although the exact reason for imposing the penalty will be known only after the full copy of the order is uploaded, Firdaus Shamim, a counsel involved in the matter, informed media persons that the fine was enforced because of wasting the time of the court.
Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay had initially empowered the central agencies to question Abhishek Banerjee.
Following the order of the Supreme Court, two related cases in the matter were transferred to the bench of Justice Sinha. Although the hearing in the matter was concluded on May 15, Justice Sinha reserved her verdict on that day.
[With Inputs from IANS]
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The 1 Ctr per day Legal Eagles in Delhi will be celebrating because the case will come to SC for sure. If a person is to be investigated or not is to go to SC all the way then the one million pendency is not very far.