1. 💰 Troubles for Trinamool escalate
Coal scam: The CBI on Wednesday conducted searches at the premises of West Bengal Law Minister Moloy Ghatak.
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Raids were in connection with a probe into alleged coal pilferage from Eastern Coalfields Ltd mines in Asansol.
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The pilfered coal was sold to brick kilns and private factories.
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The scam is believed to have generated thousands of crores of Rupees.
Who else is involved: Central agencies have already questioned Abhishek Banerjee and a few other Trinamool functionaries for their alleged involvement in the scam.
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A former senior functionary of the Trinamool’s youth wing and closed aide of Abhishek Banerjee, Vinay Mishra, is alleged to be the kingpin of the scam.
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However, he fled the country, renounced his Indian citizenship and is now believed to be a citizen of Vanuatu Island in southwestern Pacific Ocean.
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Even Trinamool strongman Anubrata Mandal, who was arrested for his involvement in the cattle smuggling scam, is allegedly involved in the coal smuggling scam.
Previous scams: The chit fund scam netted then transport minister Madan Mitra, Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay and Tapas Paul, and some other Trinamool seniors.
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Top Trinamool ministers Firhad Hakim and (late) Subrata Mukherjee and other party seniors like Mukul Roy, Saugata Roy, Prasun Banerjee and Sultan Ahmed were caught on video accepting bundles of cash in the .
Recent uncoverings: Senior Trinamool minister Partha Chatterjee was arrested for his involvement in the cash-for-jobs scam.
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Huge amounts of cash and valuables were recovered from the residences of his associate Arpita Mukherjee in late July.
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Anubrata Mandal was arrested in the cattle smuggling case.
Troubles for Mamata Banerjee: Both Chatterjee and Mandal are considered very close to the West Bengal CM.
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It is learnt that evidence is piling up against her nephew and his wife for their involvement in the coal mining scam and other cases.
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The Calcutta HC six close relatives of Mamata Banerjee — her brothers, their wives and their children — to file affidavits by 11 November listing their properties and assets.
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After the affidavits are filed, the HC may ask central agencies to scrutinise and probe their actual assets and in case any glaring discrepancies are detected, it will directly affect and tarnish the Banerjee’s image.
