They inserted their own files into the computers: Mamata accuses ED of foul play in company raid

 On August 21 and 22, the ED had carried out search operations at various offices of Leaps and Bounds Private Limited in New Alipore, Joka and Thakurpukur in Calcutta. The searches began a day after Abhishek's return from the US where he had spent several weeks

Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee speak at the foundation day event of the Trinamul Chhatra Parishad at Mayo Road in Calcutta on Monday.: Sanat Kr Sinha

Meghdeep Bhattacharyya, Kinsuk Basu, TT, Calcutta, 29.08.23 : Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee on Monday accused central probe agencies of foul play, with the chief minister going on to allege a threat to have the nephew arrested before next year’s general election.

In their addresses at the foundation day event of the Trinamul Congress's student wing on Mayo Road here in the afternoon, the Bengal chief minister and the party's national general secretary went after the central agencies for their alleged misbehaviour under the saffron regime.

“I have seen a lot of governments (at the Centre), but none this vindictive,” said Mamata in her address.

“Yesterday, somebody texted me: 'Will arrest Abhishek before the election'. Why?” she asked.

Both the aunt and the nephew had on a number of occasions in the past publicly ranted against the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly trying to target — without good reason — him and his family, thereby causing them substantial harassment, in order to weaken the Trinamul dispensation.

On August 21 and 22, the ED had carried out search operations at various offices of Leaps and Bounds Private Limited in New Alipore, Joka and Thakurpukur in Calcutta. The searches began a day after Abhishek's return from the US where he had spent several weeks. The ED said it had recovered “digital evidence” from computers, laptops and hard disks during the searches.

“Have you seen what they have done? Without informing anybody, they took whatever there was on his computers, went in and did as they pleased. After that, some files they had prepared themselves and taken along, those they inserted into the computers,” said Mamata on Monday, referring to a complaint filed by Leaps and Bounds Private Limited accounts assistant Chandan Banerjee.

“Arrey bhai, if you are computer experts, we are not novices. We took out detailed information of what you inserted, that which was not there in their computers. Detailed, timings recorded… a police complaint was lodged. The person who lodged the complaint, they are threatening them with arrest,” added the chief minister.

The accounts assistant, in his complaint with Calcutta Police, alleged that the ED officers conducting the search at the New Alipore address had downloaded 16 files from one of the company’s computers. The files have no connection with the company and were downloaded by the ED officers, according to his FIR, which prompted the police to seize the computer for investigation.

The complaint by Chandan Banerjee followed an official press release from the ED, stating that Leaps and Bounds Private Limited was “used for making dubious transactions running into crores of rupees” and named Abhishek as the company’s CEO.

The names of Abhishek’s parents feature as directors of Leaps and Bounds Private Limited. The company has alleged links with Sujay Krishna Bhadra alias Kalighater Kaku, who was arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in the appointments at state-aided schools. Bhadra, whom the ED had arrested in May, said in his previous media interactions that Abhishek was his boss.

Speaking before his aunt at the event, Abhishek lambasted the rumour — allegedly started by central agencies and widely circulated by the saffron ecosystem while he was abroad — that he might not return from the US.

“My last name is not Modi, Choksi, or Mallya (fugitive economic offenders Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Vijay Mallya). It is Banerjee. We know how to keep fighting with our heads held high, and without surrendering to Delhi. Fake news and lies are being circulated routinely using some sections of the media,” said the Diamond Harbour MP.

“Now, if the CBI visits the same place after another seven days and 'discovers' those (16) files, another smear campaign will begin,” said Abhishek who had appeared before the ED and the CBI in Calcutta and Delhi several times.

His wife, Rujira Narula, too, has been interrogated by the ED multiple times. There hasn’t been any official disclosure from the CBI or the ED on what they gathered from the several rounds of interrogation.

Abhishek had repeatedly challenged Union home minister Amit Shah in the past over the alleged harassment meted out to him and those close to him despite — according to him — a total lack of evidence of wrongdoing.