‘Court won’t show leniency’: Dilip Ghosh warns Abhishek against non-cooperation in probe

Senior BJP leader and Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development in West Bengal Dilip Ghosh launched a scathing attack on Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday, accusing him of failing to cooperate with investigating agencies.

Ghosh also warned that the courts would take a serious view of any obstruction to ongoing probes by central or state agencies very serious.

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Speaking to reporters during his morning walk on Monday, Ghosh claimed that Abhishek Banerjee had repeatedly ignored legal directives and is now seeking judicial protection only to avoid scrutiny.

“For a long time, he did not comply with court directives. Now he is approaching the courts for protection. He may have received temporary relief, but if he does not cooperate with the investigation, the court will not show leniency,” Ghosh said.

Ghosh claimed that Banerjee had not personally accepted notices served by the CID. He also pointed out that investigators had faced difficulties in reaching him.

“He did not receive the CID notices himself. Others accepted them on his behalf. The police had to break open locks to enter his residence. This cannot be termed cooperation. The court will take note of these developments,” he said.

Speaking about the investigation into the school recruitment scam, the senior BJP leader said, “The law will take its course as more information comes to light. Several leaders have already gone to jail. Yet the party leadership remained silent and did not expel them.”

Ghosh also attacked former state Sports Minister Aroop Biswas for allegedly failing to appear before investigating agencies despite repeated summons.

The Panchayat Development Minister also highlighted that public resentment against TMC leaders are now becoming increasingly visible.

“People are now expressing their anger openly. If public frustration continues to grow, the consequences could be more serious,” he remarked.

Speaking about the internal conflict that has rocked the Mamata Banerjee-led party which led to several rebel MPs joining the Tripura-based Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), Ghosh claimed that the TMC is heading towards self-destruction due to internal conflicts and mounting controversies.

The remarks came amid multiple investigations involving Abhishek Banerjee. The Diamond Harbour MP has already appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters at Bhawani Bhavan in Kolkata twice, where he was questioned for long hours in connection with the case related to alleged forgery of signatures in the West Bengal assembly.

The CID has also asked Abhishek to appear at its headquarters June 16 in another case, in connection with an FIR which claimed that the he had incited violence and threatened Union Home Minister Amit Shah during one of his campaigns.

The TMC second-in-command also appeared at the Salt Lake office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the school recruitment scam.