‘I will hang myself in public if corruption allegations proved’: TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee

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• Sep 6, 2021 | moderator

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee will be facing the Enforcement Directorate today in Delhi in an alleged coal scam case. The TMC leader, on Sunday threatened that he would hang himself in public if the corruption charges against him are proved.

Speaking to reporters at the Kolkata airport before leaving for Delhi, Banerjee accused the BJP of indulging in political vendetta having lost the state assembly elections.

"I reiterate what I had said in November at public meetings that if any central agency can prove my involvement in any illegal transaction of even 10 paise, there will be no need to hold any CBI or ED probe, I will walk up the podium and get myself hanged publicly," he said.

Abhishek Banerjee was summoned to appear before the investigating officer in an alleged money laundering case linked to the coal scam case in New Delhi today.

"I am ready to face any and every kind of investigation… Having lost the elections and failing to tackle Trinamool Congress politically, they (BJP) are now seeking revenge," Banerjee said.

The TMC MP, who represents the Diamond Harbour seat in the Lok Sabha, said that the BJP has no other job than to use the investigating agencies to fulfill their political interests.

The coal smuggling scam came into spotlight on November 27, 2020, when a case was registered by CBI Kolkata against several leaders, unknown officials of ECL, CISF, Railways and other government departments under various sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

The ED later took up the investigation and it was revealed that "large proceeds of crime" were generated and laundered as a result of illegal coal mining near railway areas. Later in February, the CBI was restricted from investigating the illegal mining and transportation of coal and was allowed to continue their probe by the Calcutta High Court.