Abhishek is a thug. Will ask CM to launch a high-level enquiry: Bengal Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee

West Bengal Cabinet Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee on Monday called for a high-level investigation into alleged irregularities in the state’s liquor trade, saying he would urge the Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, to order a comprehensive probe into the matter.

Speaking to The Statesman, Mukherjee said the allegations were serious and warranted a thorough inquiry to establish the facts and ensure accountability.

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Mukherjee described the irregularities as “a scam of the highest order”, claiming that the money that has allegedly been siphoned off could run into thousands of crores of rupees.

The Statesman had reported on June 6 about the sweeping changes introduced to the state’s liquor distribution system in 2017 under the previous Trinamool Congress government. The changes were implemented to line the pockets of Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress’s National General Secretary.

Speaking to The Statesman on Monday, Mukherjee said the allegations surrounding the state’s 2017 liquor policy had generated widespread discussion across West Bengal’s political circles and warranted immediate scrutiny.

“This is obviously huge. The story first reported by The Statesman has generated enormous traction and discussion across the state. The allegations are extremely serious and cannot simply be brushed aside,” said Mukherjee, who is a senior oncologist.

According to him, even seemingly modest charges imposed on liquor consignments could have translated into enormous sums over the years.

“If Rs 3 or Rs 4 was collected on every crate in the name of transport and warehouse charges, the cumulative amount over the years would run into thousands of crores. The figures being spoken about are staggering and deserve detailed scrutiny,” Mukherjee said.

The minister, who is also the MLA of the Bidhannagar Assembly Constituency, said that he would urge Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to ensure that a comprehensive investigation is carried out.

“I will request the Chief Minister to have the matter examined thoroughly. A high-level investigation must be carried out, whether by state authorities or central agencies, so that the full truth emerges and accountability is fixed,” Mukherjee said.

Launching a sharp attack on Abhishek Banerjee, Mukherjee chose to describe him as a “thug”.

“He is a thug. We can improve on this adjective in a lot of ways, but let us keep it limited to that,” Mukherjee told The Statesman.

Mukherjee’s remarks come in the wake of a confidential Excise Department report, accessed by The Statesman, which purportedly examines sweeping changes introduced to the state’s liquor distribution system in 2017 under the previous Trinamool Congress government.

According to the report, the state created the West Bengal State Beverages Corporation Ltd. (WBSBCL), replacing private wholesalers who had previously handled the distribution of foreign liquor and beer.

The report alleges that the move transformed a competitive system involving 55 licensed distributors into a monopolistic model controlled through a state-run structure.

The report further claims that bottlers and liquor manufacturers were compelled to pay additional charges in the form of warehouse rentals and transportation fees on every crate of liquor and beer distributed through the system. According to the findings, Rs 4 per crate was charged as warehouse rent and Rs 3 per crate as transportation cost.

The confidential report alleges that the policy changes, introduced in the name of promoting transparency, preventing cartelisation and improving consumer access, ultimately enabled the diversion of substantial sums of money through a network of distributors.

It further claims that bottlers who resisted the arrangement were pressured to comply. One example cited in the report is IFB Agro Industries Ltd, which allegedly complained to the Excise Department about extortion and illegal interference after refusing to accede to certain demands.

The report has reportedly been placed before senior state government officials, including Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, while Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has also been briefed on its contents.

The allegations have triggered a major political confrontation in the state, with BJP leaders demanding a comprehensive investigation into the liquor distribution system and other major revenue-generating sectors that operated under the previous government.