Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Member of Parliament, was questioned by officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for over 11 hours on Monday. This interrogation is related to a money laundering investigation concerning alleged irregularities in the recruitment process for primary school teachers in West Bengal.

Banerjee arrived at the ED’s office located in Kolkata’s CGO Complex shortly before 11 am, responding to a summons linked to these allegations. As part of the ongoing probe, investigators had prepared approximately two dozen questions that were directed at the TMC leader.

The extended questioning occurred just after Banerjee had been interrogated for nearly eight-and-a-half hours by the West Bengal Crime Investigation Department (CID) regarding alleged forgery involving the signatures of MLAs on documents tied to the appointment of the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly.

Banerjee’s Statement Post-Interrogation

Following his lengthy engagement with investigators, Banerjee addressed reporters outside the ED office around 10.15 pm. He asserted that he had fully cooperated with the investigation and responded to all inquiries presented to him. He also highlighted that he had faced questioning from central investigative agencies multiple times in the past, including two instances in Delhi.

Banerjee alleged that there are deliberate efforts being made to intimidate and undermine opposition parties. He claimed that a concerted attack against political opponents has been ongoing for the past month, aiming to suppress dissenting voices and silence those who resist pressure.

He expressed concern over the removal of eligible voters’ names from electoral rolls for various reasons and the undue influence exerted on opposition counting agents during electoral processes. Banerjee emphasised that such tactics would not deter the opposition’s resolve.

Context of the Recruitment Scam

The recruitment scandal, central to the current investigation, reportedly led to the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) four years ago. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began its inquiry in June 2022, with several arrests occurring in July of that year. Despite these developments, the matter remains contentious and unresolved according to Banerjee.

While reiterating his commitment to a transparent, fair, and merit-based recruitment process, Banerjee insisted that eligible candidates should be able to secure jobs without unnecessary delays. He described the ongoing investigation and related summonses as attempts to weaken opposition through conspiracies and political manoeuvring.

Banerjee was clear in his assertion that those committed to representing the people’s interests would not succumb to intimidation or surrender. He maintained that the TMC, as a voice of opposition, would persist in advocating for the public amidst repeated challenges.

The ED continues to investigate the financial irregularities associated with the recruitment system in West Bengal’s primary education sector. However, the agency has not publicly released any specifics regarding Banerjee’s responses during the questioning sessions held on Monday.

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