Ali Anwar lends support to Mamata, says those in power misuse CBI

Lending his support to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Janata Dal (United) leader Ali Anwar on Friday opined that whichever government is in power at the Centre misuses the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a political tool against its opponents.

Anwar was lending his support to Mamata Banerjee's allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was waging a political vendetta against her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), over the Saradha chit-fund scam.

"Most of governments at Centre have misused the CBI as a political tool, it is a fact. That is why even the Supreme Court was also of the view that this organization should be made free [of the machinations of the government]," he told ANI.

On Thursday, Banerjee had accused the BJP of political vendetta against her party and reiterated that TMC had no connection with the Saradha chit-fund scam.

"The people who are accusing our party's involvement in the Saradha chit scam should first look at themselves. Our party has nothing to do with the scam. In fact, the TMC is the only party which has no relation with any scam. Our government was not even in power when the scam took place," Banerjee had said.

"This is a political vendetta. We are fighting a battle against the BJP, which is why they are jealous. But a democracy can never be bulldozed; we will win the battle," she had added.

Last week, the CBI arrested West Bengal Transport and Sports Minister Madan Mitra in connection with the Saradha scam. Taking strong exception to Mitra's arrest, Banerjee had termed his arrest illegal and unconstitutional.