Coal Scam Coal scam case: Abhishek Banerjee, wife Rujira move Supreme Court challenging ED's jurisdiction
Kolkata/New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira Banerjee on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging the jurisdiction of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged coal scam case, media reports said.
The couple moved the top court a day after they reached the national capital following the ED's summons for interrogation.
Speaking on the case, Banerjee cried foul accusing the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is opposed to West Bengal's ruling party TMC, of vendetta politics.
He said, "We will not cow down before the BJP who are doing this for vendetta because people in Bengal have rejected them. I had challenged the ED’s jurisdiction in August last year before the Delhi HC… The court heard the petition for four months and then kept its judgment reserved for another three months.
"Then a day after the BJP won the state elections, the court suddenly dismissed my petition… That cannot be a coincidence. I have my option open to move the SC and I have faith in the judiciary."
The 34-year-old politician was grilled by the ED in New Delhi last year after the conclusion of the crucial West Bengal assembly election, which was won convincingly by the TMC, a regional satrap led by Banerjee's aunt and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
BJP reacts:
“The Indian Constitution has given him (Abhishek Banerjee) the right to reach the Supreme Court. There should be no politics in this. A party like BJP does not need any ED or CBI to win elections,” said BJP state spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya in response to Abhishek Banerjee’s comment.
“Only ED or CBI can answer why Suvendu Adhikari is not summoned... BJP has nothing to say,” Bhattacharya said in response to TMC’s allegation that Adhikari is not summoned as he belongs to the saffron party.
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