Kolkata, Jun 19 (PTI) Several rebel Trinamool Congress MLAs approached the cyber crime police station under the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, seeking registration of an FIR and a detailed investigation into certain bank accounts allegedly linked to the TMC, lending a fresh twist to the party’s tussle over its stash, allegedly in excess of Rs 600 crore, in bank vaults.
The complaints, which raise questions over the source and utilisation of funds, pertain to the same accounts maintained with a private sector bank that have been at the centre of an escalating tussle within the TMC.
The development comes days after senior TMC leader Aroop Biswas sought freezing of operations in the accounts, citing concerns over their control and management.
The fresh complaints take the matter a step further by seeking a criminal investigation into the source of the funds and the transactions carried out through the accounts.
According to a copy of the complaint submitted to the police, the MLAs sought a probe into transactions in three bank accounts, alleging there was a need to ascertain whether the funds originated from lawful sources or from unlawful activities, including alleged cut-money collections, siphoning of public funds and proceeds of scams.
“It has come to my knowledge through reliable circumstances and surrounding developments that certain funds, arising out of illegal activities, including misuse of influence, dishonest financial dealings and suspected unlawful collection of money, may have been routed and subsequently deposited into bank accounts,” one of the complaints stated.
“The pattern of such suspected financial movement gives rise to a reasonable apprehension that electronic communication systems, digital platforms and online banking mechanisms may have been used to facilitate the transfer and possible concealment of such proceeds,” he added.
The MLAs urged the police to register an FIR and conduct a detailed investigation into the origin, movement and destination of funds in the accounts, while preserving banking, KYC and electronic transaction records.
“Ten or more MLAs have approached the police seeking an investigation into these accounts as we suspect the money deposited there could be linked to extortion, cut-money collections and possible institutional corruption. Whether there has been siphoning of government funds can only be established by investigating agencies,” rebel TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, who has been accorded the status of Leader of the Opposition by the dissident legislators, said.
“We are particularly concerned about the alleged use of these funds for chartered flights between Delhi and Kolkata. Until the probe is completed, transactions in these accounts should be stopped,” he said.
Although he did not specifically name the party leaders he was pointing fingers at, his indications at chartered flight trips, to and from Delhi, undertaken by Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee in the recent past, were hard to miss.
The LoP said the legislators’ objective was to ensure transparency and establish whether the money deposited in the accounts had been collected and utilised lawfully.
“We do not know the details of these accounts or the nature of the funds deposited in them. That is why we have approached the police and sought an investigation,” another MLA, who requested anonymity, said.
The legislator also alleged that questions had emerged within sections of the party over the handling of finances following the party’s electoral defeat.
In their complaints, the MLAs said the accounts warranted scrutiny as the funds routed through them could involve electronic and banking transactions requiring examination by investigating agencies.
They urged the police to examine the source of deposits, transaction trails and the identities of persons operating or benefiting from the accounts, and to take appropriate legal action if any wrongdoing is detected.
The complaints also sought immediate preservation of banking and electronic records, contending that any delay could result in crucial evidence being altered or destroyed.
Interestingly, the complaints were filed before the same cyber crime police station that is probing an FIR registered against Aroop Biswas in connection with the alleged chaos surrounding Argentine football star Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata, making political observers find a “deliberate link” between the two. PTI BSM SMY ACD
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