Am I hiding anything? Abhishek slams search at home; Mamata rushes to nephew's aid
"You can ask the investigating agencies about the search, whether I have hidden anything inside?" — with that pointed response to reporters after emerging from
"You can ask the investigating agencies about the search, whether I have hidden anything inside?" — with that pointed response to reporters after emerging from his searched residence, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee sought to turn the spotlight back on investigators even as dramatic political scenes unfolded across West Bengal on Saturday. In another allegation directed at the authorities, Banerjee claimed, "They broke open the lock, entered the house and searched every room". Read Full Story His visibly irked remarks came after a pre-dawn police operation at his Kalighat residence, an action that triggered a hurried visit by TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, intensified political speculation and added to the growing pressure on a party already confronting legal battles, internal rebellion and the fallout of its Assembly election defeat. The developments began shortly after 3 am when teams from Shalbani Police Station in Paschim Medinipur, accompanied by Kolkata Police and protected by central force deployment outside the premises, arrived at Abhishek Banerjee’s residence in Kolkata’s Patuapara area. According to sources, the operation was linked to a case involving Sumit Roy, considered a close aide and personal assistant to the Diamond Harbour MP.
Police personnel remained at the location for more than four hours as officers moved in and out of the premises. As word of the operation spread, Mamata Banerjee rushed to her nephew’s residence. Sources said the former chief minister spent some time inside before leaving. Her swift arrival reflected both the sensitivity of the operation and the wider political implications for a party currently facing one of the most difficult phases in its recent history. Abhishek’s comments after the operation reflected an attempt to publicly challenge the necessity and scale of the search. Responding to questions regarding whether his aide was being sheltered at the residence, he dismissed the suggestion and questioned the purpose behind the exercise. Officials, however, did not immediately clarify the exact details of the case connected to the operation. Reacting strongly to the developments, the TMC slammed the police action against Abhishek, writing on X, "Political vendetta gets from bad to worse". SEARCHES FOLLOW CID RAID Saturday’s developments unfolded barely two days after Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the West Bengal CID for nearly six hours of questioning in the Assembly signature forgery case — a controversy that has evolved into one of the defining flashpoints of the Trinamool Congress crisis.
The BriefWire