Page 40 - Tmc

The lows of a high office: 'My ear is not working'

The moves made by former West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and his subsequent elevation as vice president have set a new benchmark for the actions of those who occupy Raj Bhavans

Adhikari urges Centre to check 'illegal diversion of funds' by WB govt

Accusing the West Bengal government of illegally diverting" Central funds, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, urged Union Finance minister to take appropriate steps so that the malpractices come to an end. He made the accusation in a series of tweets and also wrote a letter to the Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard. The BJP leader in a tweet alleged that the state government had tactfully opened the State Nodal Account of Public Finance Management System in a private bank where the State Emergency Relief Fund Account was in operation so that Central funds could be easily diverted. "It is a can of worms waiting to be opened," he wrote on the micro-blogging site on Thursday. The MLA from Nandigram requested the Union minister to keep a tab on the transactions of the state government and attached a copy of the letter, dated September 29, with his tweet. Adhikari later tweeted, "one tweet of mine and West Bengal government is out of lin

1 dead, 9 TMC supporters injured in accident while returning from rally

An 11-year-old boy was killed and nine other TMC supporters were injured in a head on collision between their e-rickshaw and an SUV in West Bengal's Malda district, police said on Thursday. The TMC supporters were returning from a protest rally over price rise on Wednesday night when the accident happened at Sripur in Pukuria police station area, they said. The driver of the SUV, which was heading to Sripur from Lashkarpur, was allegedly drunk and not able to control the vehicle, he hit the e-rickshaw coming from the other side, they added. Six of those injured were admitted to the Chanchol Hospital, while four others were sent to the Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH), police said. The boy, who was undergoing treatment at MMCH, died on Thursday morning, they said. The driver of the SUV has been apprehended, and the vehicle seized, police said.

21 TMC MLAs in touch with me, claims BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty

Actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty claimed that nearly 21 Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs are in touch with him

CBI might quiz CA of TMC's Anubrata Mondal again in cattle smuggling case

The Central Bureau of Investigation might again question Manish Kothari, the chartered account of TMC strongman Anubrata Mondal, in connection with the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal

Violent mob at BJP's rally can be taught a lesson in 10 minutes: TMC leader

TMC leader Madan Mitra has courted controversy by claiming that those involved in violence and attacks on police during BJP's recent march to the West Bengal secretariat can be "taught a lesson in just 10 minutes". Mitra, however, added that the Trinamool Congress is not in favour of such an action in retaliation to BJP's "disruptive policies". The former state minister's comments come close on the heels of TMC general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee's remark that if I was there, I would have shot the violent protesters in the head. Mitra, speaking at a public meeting in Kamarhati constituency on Sunday, said, "If there is an instruction from the party, it won't take more than 10 minutes to thrash those who were involved in hooliganism and vandalism (during BJP's Nabanna Abhijan' on September 14). We can retaliate with double the force than the attackers. The maverick MLA also said TMC has emphasised it wants development not violence. It speaks the language of love and compassio

TMC inks MoU with Balco Medical Centre to enable exchange of knowledge

The Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) here has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Balco Medical Centre (BMC) in Chhattisgarh's Raipur to enable exchange of knowledge, enhancement of skills, capabilities and core practices in cancer treatment. The BMC will gain from the TMC's expertise and decades of experience in cancer treatment to develop best-in-class technical and medical guidance. With this association, the TMC will empanel the BMC as a referral centre for patients from Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states. The BMC will also take part in the National Cancer Grid Virtual Tumour Boards to drive excellence in patient care. The MoU will enable the two institutes to conduct joint or multi-centric research. Speaking on the occasion, TMC director Dr R A Badwe said the institute aims to empower as many centres in India to drive the same vision of excellence in service, research and education. Jyoti Agarwal, chairperson of the BMC, said the two institutes were coming together t

CBI seeks custody of ex-Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in SSC scam

The CBI on Friday prayed for custody of former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee before the Alipore district court here in connection with its investigation into the SSC recruitment scam. Chatterjee and his alleged close associate Arpita Mukherjee were on July 23 arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the money trail in the scam and has seized nearly Rs 50 crore in cash, apart from bullion, jewellery and property deeds from the latter's flats in Kolkata. The former minister, who is at present in judicial remand, was produced before the special CBI court at Alipore district court here on Friday on its direction following a prayer before it by the central agency for Chatterjee's custody in connection with the scam. The judge reserved judgement on the prayers after hearing both the parties. The CBI prayed for 14-day custody of Chatterjee for questioning him in connection with its probe into the SSC teaching and non-teaching staff recruitment scam. Addressing t

Will give ED list of 100 TMC MLAs with disproportionate assets: Adhikari

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday claimed he would soon submit documents to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that contain details about disproportionate assets of 100 TMC leaders. The ruling Trinamool Congress, however, dubbed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. Adhikari said he would visit the ED office in the city on Saturday and submit the documents to the central agency. "A few days back, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had claimed that 99 per cent of party workers are honest. But, I have documents to prove nearly 99 per cent of TMC leaders are corrupt, the Leader of Opposition in West Bengal assembly claimed. "On Saturday, I would submit those documents to the ED officials and request them to initiate a probe The entire TMC is neck-deep in corruption," he alleged. Reacting to his comments, senior TMC leader Tapas Ray said Adhikari has a habit of making baseless allegations. "Let him prove his claims. After BJP's failed Nabanna Abhiyan' (march t

Maneka Gambhir files contempt of court petition in Calcutta HC against ED

The immigration department furnished an email printout of a notice from the ED, through which the latter had summoned her to be present at the ED office in Kolkata for questioning in a particular case

ED issues fresh summons to TMC MP's kin after wrong notice call at midnight

The Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to Maneka Gambhir, the sister-in-law of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, for questioning in a money laundering case after it was found that the agency "erroneously" issued her a notice for appearance at 12:30 AM instead of 12:30 PM on Monday, official sources said. Gambhir was handed over the summons to appear at the ED office here on Monday "at 12:30 AM" by agency officials at the Kolkata airport on September 10 after they denied her from travelling abroad as she was required to join investigation in an alleged coal scam case. She reached the ED office in Salt Lake area around the stipulated time given on the summons but as it was an erroneous date issued inadvertently, she found the office closed and returned after clicking some pictures, the sources said. The sources said the midnight time printed on the earlier summons was a "typographical error" and it should have been "12:30 PM" on September 12. Now, Gambhir has been sent fresh ..

ED stops Abhishek Banerjee's relative from flying abroad; issues summons

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's sister-in-law Maneka Gambhir was on Saturday evening stopped by the ED at the Kolkata airport from flying abroad and was handed over summons to join investigation in a money laundering case, official sources said. Gambhir had reached the airport to take a flight to Bangkok departing around 9 PM. The sources said on Sunday that Gambhir was denied immigration clearance on the basis of a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against her by the federal probe agency. She was stopped by the immigration authorities and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was informed following which they reached the airport, spoke to her and denied her permission to travel, they said. The ED officials subsequently handed over summons to her seeking her appearance before the agency on Monday (September 12) at 11 am at its office in Salt Lake area in Kolkata for questioning in a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal pilferage case of West Bengal, the sources said. She is understo

CBI quizzes TMC MLA for BJP worker's murder in post-poll violence

Senior TMC MLA Paresh Pal appeared before the CBI on Tuesday in connection with its probe into the murder of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar in post-poll violence in Kolkata. Pal, the MLA of Beleghata, was questioned by the agency in May as well in the case. "We have specific questions for Pal in connection with the murder of Sarkar. These questions have been framed after grilling a few others in connection with the murder," a CBI officer said. Pal is being questioned by CBI officers at the agency's CGO Complex office in Salt Lake near Kolkata. Sarkar was dragged out of his house in Narkeldanga and murdered allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers, hours after the results of the state assembly elections were declared on May 2 last year.

CBI arrests another TMC leader, Raju Sahani in West Bengal chit fund case

Th CBI arrested the chairperson of Halisahar Municipality and TMC leader Raju Sahani, in Kolkata and took him for five days' custody in an ongoing investigation related with a chit fund case

SC to hear plea of Abhishek Banerjee for treatment abroad on Sept 5

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear on September 5 the plea by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee seeking approval to go to Dubai for a medical procedure. The top court had on May 17 granted relief to the TMC leader and his wife Rujira Banerjee by asking the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to examine them in its Kolkata office, instead of summoning them to Delhi, after giving a 24-hour advance notice. The bench had also stayed the Delhi High Court order which had dismissed the pleas filed by the TMC MP and his wife seeking quashing of summonses issued to them in a money-laundering probe. A bench headed by Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, at the outset, was urged by senior advocate Kapil Sibal that the leader has to go to Dubai for a medical procedure and the central probe agency has opposed it alleging he may not come back. There is urgency. He wanted to go to Dubai for a medical procedure. We filed a petition in the (Calcutta) high court and there they opposed saying I will not return

CBI detains TMC councillor after search operation in cattle smuggling scam

The CBI on Wednesday detained a TMC councillor, who is known to share close ties with arrested party strongman Anubrata Mondal, following a search operation at his residence here in connection with the probe into the alleged cattle smuggling scam, an agency official said. Biswajyoti Bandyopadhyay, whose name had cropped up during investigation, was detained for questioning early in the day, he said. CBI sleuths also simultaneously conducted searches at residences of two other local TMC leaders who are "closely associated" with Mondal and are suspected to have played a vital role in the scam, the official said. "Names of these three persons had come up during our investigation. We need to find out what were their exact roles and how much they benefitted from the scam," the CBI officer told PTI over phone. Several documents have been seized during the raids, he said, without revealing much detail. "We are talking to these people to find out relevant information about their involveme

ED summons TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in coal smuggling scam

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday issued a summons to Trinamool Congress' national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee for questioning in connection with its probe into the coal pilferage scam', an official said. The central agency asked Banerjee, the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to appear at its Kolkata office on Friday morning, he said. "We have summoned Abhishek Banerjee to appear before our sleuths here. Our officers from New Delhi will come to interrogate him," the senior ED officer told PTI. While attacking the BJP during a programme, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had on Monday apprehended that the central agencies might send notices to her nephew, considered the second in command in the party, and other senior leaders.

Oppn parties up the ante as TMC warns leaders against aggressive remarks

As the CBI and ED stretch their nets to haul in people involved in the school teacher appointment scam and cattle-smuggling racket, the ruling Trinamool Congress is attempting to play it safe

TMC leaders will be publicly beaten up for involvement in scams: Ghosh

BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh Friday courted yet another controversy by saying that the day is not far off when the TMC leaders will be "publicly beaten up" for their involvement in various graft cases in the state. Ghosh, known for making controversial remarks, said the TMC leaders will soon face "public ire" for their alleged involvement in various scams, including cattle smuggling and the SSC scandals. "The day is not far away when TMC leaders will be publicly beaten up. The people of the state are fed up with this corrupt TMC regime. They will soon face public ire for their involvement in various scams," he said addressing a protest rally. "Only two TMC leaders have been arrested and the party is crying foul over it. The day is not far off when the entire TMC leadership will be behind bars. None of the TMC leaders will be spared, they have to pay for their sins," he said. The CBI had arrested TMC Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal from Bolpur on August 11 for

TMC removes Tripura president Bhowmik amid speculations of rejoining BJP

The Trinamool Congress removed its Tripura state president Subal Bhowmik on Wednesday amid speculations that he may return to the BJP. Bhowmik, a former MLA from Sonamura, had crossed over to the TMC from BJP in July last year. "This press release is to announce that Subal Bhowmik is being relieved from his duties of state president of Tripura Pradesh Trinamool Congress with immediate effect," the TMC said. "All the members of the state committee, state youth committee, state mahila committee, state ST cell shall continue in their position," it said. Bhowmik has been staying away from party programmes for the last few days. The TMC announced that former West Bengal minister Rajib Banerjee, the party's in-charge for Tripura, and Rajya Sabha MP Susmita Dev will look after the functioning of the party till a new state president is appointed. Bhowmik, who was appointed TMC's state president in April, is likely to join the BJP during its president JP Nadda's visit to Tripura on August