Three suspected audio tapes in the coal scam case surfaced in the middle of Assembly elections in West Bengal, the BJP has become vocal against the ruling Trinamool Congress.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari made a significant accusation during a press conference in Kolkata on Sunday, citing that the audio tapes revealed that Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the state government were involved in the scandal. He said, “Rs 900 to 1000 crore has been given to MP Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of the Chief Minister.”
Meanwhile, BJP leader Dinesh Trivedi told The Sunday Guardian that the actual truth was revealed and each household of Bengal was aware of the scam that involved crores of money. The scam was disclosed publicly.
He also claimed that it was the money of the common people of Bengal and not someone’s private fund.
According to Suvendu, the Chief Minister and the government are also directly involved in the scam. Ganesh Bagadia and Abhishek Banerjee have a close friendship. Ganesh is facing a slew of charges.
He said that the police officers and the IPS officers know about this. The audio tape of Ganesh Bagadia, a businessman close to the alleged mastermind of coal smuggling Anup Majhi alias Lala, had surfaced a day earlier which contained shocking revelations. According to this, Vinay Mishra, who is close to Abhishek Banerjee and an absconding Trinamool Congress leader, is making the most demand by becoming extortion agents. In this tape, the coal smuggling money has been revealed to reach Abhishek Banerjee. After this, the BJP has claimed that Rs 900 to 1000 crore is involved in this entire extortion scandal.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Ashok Mishra, Inspector In-Charge (IC) of Bankura Police Station, Bengal, in Delhi on Saturday night in the case of illegal mining and smuggling of coal. He is a relative of Vinay Mishra.
Vikas, Vinay’s brother, has already been arrested in the coal smuggling case in Delhi. The key accused in the case Anup has been questioned three times and the CBI has summoned him again on Monday.