NEW DELHI: The ED has alleged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee’s household benefited from illicit funds obtained from sure unlawful coal mining within the state underneath a “deep system” of political patronage pushed by a “well-oiled” equipment.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) made these claims Wednesday in a remand notice introduced earlier than a particular court docket in search of enhanced custody of West Bengal police officer Ashok Kumar Mishra, additionally the inspector in-charge of Bankura police station.
The police officer, other than TMC youth wing chief Vinay Mishra’s brother Vikas Mishra, was arrested by the ED in a case which has native dealer Anup Majhi alias Lala because the prime suspect.
The inspector was arrested by the ED right here on April 3 and the court docket had despatched him to custody until Wednesday.
The court docket prolonged his ED remand until April 12.
The ED case underneath the Prevention of Cash Laundering Act (PMLA) was filed after finding out a November, 2020 FIR of the CBI alleging a multi-crore coal pilferage rip-off associated to the Japanese Coalfields Ltd mines within the state’s Kunustoria and Kajora areas in and round Asansol.
The ED, within the remand notice, alleged that sure unlawful mining situations had been flourishing within the state underneath the “patronage” of the political occasion in energy.
The company related the policeman to Majhi, Vinay and Vikas Mishra, going up all the best way to the Abhishek Banerjee’s household.
The Diamond Harbour MP has denied these allegations.
All coal property fall immediately underneath Centre and are guarded by the Central businesses.
If BJP thinks TMC leaders bought cash from these illegally working the coal property, then what’s stopping Centre from investigating all culprits who didn’t handle these nationwide property? he had tweeted earlier this week.
He added, “Additionally it’s ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS that in accordance with BJP, Coal Ministry and Residence Ministry officers had been extra keenly following TMC leaders’ orders than listening to their very own bosses’ (Learn Modi-Shah’s) instructions! Whom are you fooling.
” The ED mentioned paperwork seized from Majhi and Niraj Singh confirmed the previous had “maintained detailed coded data within the type of funds made to numerous entities from the proceeds of crime generated from unlawful coal mining”.
“…it’s additional revealed that in a span of lower than 2 years, an quantity to the tune of Rs 1,352 crore has been illegally generated by Majhi by means of unlawful coal mining,” the company claimed.
“Investigation additionally revealed a deep system of political patronage and well-oiled community by which the system was subverted to hold out these unlawful actions in a brazen method.”
Quoting the recorded assertion of an unidentified “shut affiliate” of Majhi, the ED mentioned the alleged kingpin of this coal pilferage rip-off did his “unlawful coal mining enterprise easily by managing senior functionaries of the political occasion of West Bengal although Inspector Mishra.”
The assertion of the unidentified “witness” added, “it’s identified undeniable fact that Vinay Mishra collected cash from unlawful coal mining of Majhi and his associates for his carefully related political boss in current ruling occasion; that Vinay Mishra is youth chief of TMC and he’s very near Abhishek Banerjee and that he (Vinay Mishra) is the eyes and ears of Abhishek Banerjee.”
The ED additionally annexed the recorded assertion of the Inspector the place he allegedly said that “Vinay Mishra was the secretary of TMC and was very near Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee.”
The policeman advised the ED that he as soon as transferred about Rs 1-1.5 from the state to Delhi allegedly on the instructions of Vinay Mishra and this was finished underneath political stress and understanding his (Vinay Mishra) clout within the occasion, he (Inspector Mishra) has to obey him or his profession will probably be completed.
“He (Inspector Mishra) facilitated in transferring funds by means of a non-banking channel from India to London for an in depth relative of Shri Abhishek Banerjee and the funds had been transferred by Niraj Singh (Majhi’s accountant).”
“The message relating to funds switch to Thailand from India was forwarded to him both by Vikas or Niraj Singh and that the topic transaction of Thailand was associated to Rujira Banerjee who’s the shut relative (spouse) of Abhishek Banerjee,” the ED mentioned quoting the assertion recorded by it of Inspector Mishra.
Based on the scheme underneath the felony provisions of the PMLA, an announcement made throughout investigation underneath the mentioned legislation is admissible within the court docket.
The company claimed that paperwork it seized present that “Majhi assisted in transferring substantial funds derived from the proceeds of crime to Shri Abhishek Banerjee’s shut relative (spouse and sister-in-law) at London and Thailand.”
The ED alleged the police Inspector “grew to become the a part of evil axis of coal mafia, corrupt politicians and corrupt authorities servants….and proof is there about him receiving tainted funds of Rs 168 crore in simply 109 days from Majhi and for his political bosses together with Vinay Mishra and for himself.”
“He’s a authorities official however labored carefully with the coal mafia and concerned in transferring the contaminated funds collected from unlawful coal mining enterprise to the abroad financial institution accounts of politically influential individuals and their shut relations of West Bengal,” the ED alleged.
The case has picked up political hyperlinks after Abhishek Banerjee’s spouse Rujira was questioned by the CBI a while again.
The state is within the midst of an eight-phase polling for its 294-seat meeting.
