Abhishek Banerjee’s ‘raze down my house’ message amid scrutiny over property empire
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee said on Tuesday that his “fight against the BJP” would continue after Kolkata’s civic authorities began an inquiry into the “legality” of the properties he owned.During a press conference, Abhishek launched a diatribe against West Bengal Chief Minister Subvendu Adhikari and said that he will not bow down even if the government demolishes his house.“We have had many Chief Ministers in our state, but none like the present one. Whoever is seen taking money on camera has been made Chief Minister. Let them do whatever they want,” said the TMC MP.“Demolish my house, send notices. I will not bow down to all this. No matter what, my fight against BJP will continue.”The notice is the first step taken by the KMC when it initiates an inquiry into alleged irregularities in a property. “We have stuck notices on several properties owned by various individuals, including Abhishek Banerjee,” said a KMC official. Since 2010, the civic board has been under Trinamool control.Senior TMC leaders told TOI that the KMC move upset the Banerjee family, which decided to fight back legally. Sources said several party leaders are in touch with the family and strategizing to move forward. “The process of collecting all the necessary legal documents and verifying them has started… lawyers are being consulted, and preparations for the legal battle have begun. This is not politics, it is politics of revenge,” said a party senior.After failing to get any response from the Diamond Harbor MP, officials pasted a notice under Section 401 of the KMC Act 1980 on the wall of the building, a KMC source said.Such notices are issued when at least a part of a building is constructed without the approval of the civic body.“Giving such a notice also paves the way for destruction. Here too we will strictly follow the rules. If major violations are noticed, we may have to initiate the demolition process,” said a KMC official.Chief Minister Subvendu Adhikari said properties owned by Banerjee and three others are under the scanner. He asserted that the government would put “corrupts” in jail.Addressing a rally at Vardhan Market, the chief minister spoke of a crackdown on people “accused in corruption cases” and mentioned the names of those whose assets are being probed in the city.“Abhishek Banerjee has 14 properties called Lips and Bounds, four in his name and six in his father’s name. Raju Naskar (promoter) has 18 properties in Beleghata. Sona Pappur has 24 properties, Javed Khan’s son has 90 properties,” Adhikari said.“Santnu Sinha Biswas (DC of Kolkata Police) and Sujit Bose (former minister) have been arrested. The BJP government will put every corrupt person behind bars,” Adhikari claimed.
