Kolkata: TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee was grilled by CBI officers in Kolkata on Saturday. The TMC leader appeared before the probe agency in the school jobs scam. He was questioned for more than nine hours before allowing the politician to go. Banerjee told reporters that the questioning was a waste of time for both him and the CBI officers. But, he cooperated in all that was asked. "I was grilled for nine-and-a-half hours by the CBI. It was a waste of time for them (CBI officers) as well as for me," said Banerjee after emerging from Nizam Palace where the CBI office is located.
Banerjee further claimed that he was called in because he was not dancing to the tunes of Delhi's bosses and that is why he has been targeted. He also alleged that while TMC leaders, who were unwilling to bend were being harassed, BJP leaders who had been involved in various cases were allowed to go scot-free.
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Banerjee's name cropped up in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh. He had alleged that central investigating agencies were pressuring him to name Abhishek Banerjee in the school scam case. In his letter to the CBI, Abhishek had written, "At the very onset, I state that I am rather shocked to find that the notice under reference was served upon me on May 19 in the afternoon, directing me to appear before your office at Kolkata at 11 am on May 20, providing me less than a day's time to comply."
Stating that he was in the midst of a two-month-long state-wide yatra to connect with the people of West Bengal, he said that while he wished to cooperate with the agencies, hence, was abiding with the summons, it may be noted that he had preferred a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court, thereby challenging the order dated May 18 (passed by Calcutta High Court)."
