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Business News/ News / India/  CBI questions TMC's Abhishek Banerjee for 9 hours, MP says ‘was a waste of time’
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CBI questions TMC's Abhishek Banerjee for 9 hours, MP says ‘was a waste of time’

Banerjee told newspersons keeping vigil outside the Nizam Palace office of the CBI, that the questioning was a waste of time for both him and the CBI officers, but that he 'cooperated in all that was asked'

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee at Nizam Palace on SaturdayPremium
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee at Nizam Palace on Saturday

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday questioned the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee for nine hours, as part of the agency's probe into the school jobs scam. 

Banerjee told newspersons keeping vigil outside the Nizam Palace office of the CBI, that the questioning was a waste of time for both him and the CBI officers, but that he “cooperated in all that was asked."  

The MP was quoted saying, “ Will not be pet dog to 'Delhi bosses', that's why targeted. Questioning was a waste of time for them (CBI officers) and me". 

“I was questioned for 9 and-a-half hours by CBI …Questioning was a waste of time for them (CBI officers) as well as for me," Banerjee after emerging from Nizam Palace.

He also alleged that while TMC leaders who were unwilling bend were being harassed, BJP leaders who had been involved in various cases were allowed to go scot free.

Banerjee's name cropped up in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh where he alleged that central investigating agencies were pressuring him to name Abhishek Banerjee in the school scam case.

Before reaching CBI offices at Nizam Palace here, Banerjee had written a letter to the CBI informing it of his decision to move the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order which allows investigative agencies CBI and ED to question him.

CBI officers are believed to have asked the TMC leader why an accused in the school jobs scam Kuntal Ghosh has alleged that he was being pressured to name him, according to sources.

Abhishek is believed to have stated that he he has no knowledge of the reasons behind Ghosh’s statement.

The TMC leader's name cropped up in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh where he alleged that central investigating agencies were pressuring him to name Abhishek Banerjee in the school scam case.

In his letter to the CBI, Abhishek had written, "At the very onset, I state that I am rather shocked to find that the notice under reference was served upon me on 19.05.2023 in the afternoon, directing me to appear before your office at Kolkata at 11.00 am on 20.05.2023, providing me less than a day's time to comply."

Stating that he was in the midst of a two-month-long state-wide yatra to connect with the people of West Bengal, he said that while he wished to cooperate with the agencies and hence was abiding with the summons, it should be noted that he had “ preferred a Special Leave Petition before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of lndia, thereby challenging the order dated 18.05.2023 (passed by Calcutta High Court),"

Abhishek Banerjee, who was on the campaign trail in Bankura in western Bengal, had rushed back to Kolkata Friday night to answer the summons sent by the central investigative agency.

Later on Friday, the TMC leader and nephew of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, had in an impromptu speech delivered from atop his vehicle had, also dared the central agency to arrest him if it has any proof of corruption or misconduct against him.

"I dare the CBI to arrest me if they have any proof of corruption against me," Abhishek said at a rally in Bankura.

 

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Published: 20 May 2023, 09:35 PM IST
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