Mamata slams central govt over Tapas Paul's death

Following the death of the veteran actor Tapas Paul, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee slammed the Central government for its "political vengeance" towards the TMC leaders, businessmen and other influential people. Banerjee expressed her concern for all those who were allegedly caught into the jail for having a "suspected" connection with the ponzi scam.

Kolkata (West Bengal): Holding the BJP-led central government's "political vengeance" responsible for actor-politician Tapas Paul's death, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that three persons including a Trinamool MP and the wife of another Lok Sabha member have died in recent years unable to withstand the pressure of the central agencies.

"In 2017, Trinamool MP Sultan Ahmed died. His family told me he received a letter and phone, went to the bathroom, and died. Arjuna awardee footballer Prasun Banerjee's wife also died, unable to bear the sufferings," Banerjee said while speaking at the Rabindra Sadan cultural complex in Kolkata, where Paul's body was kept for public viewing.

"And now, it is Tapas... His death has again shown how his life had become terrible due to pressure mounted by central agencies. He had become a mental and psychological wreck," said Banerjee.

"He didn't know till death what was his crime. A numero uno film star like Tapas had to languish in prison for 13 months. His crime was that he was the director of an entertainment channel. He used to get a salary for that. But for that he was imprisoned," said Banerjee, continuing her explosive attack on the Centre.

"I am mentally shocked," the Chief Minister said.

Several Trinamool leaders, businessmen and other influential people have been interrogated or arrested in connection with the multi-billion rupee ponzi scam and the Narada sting footage scandal by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and other central agencies, which took over the cases following the court's order.

Ahmed and Prasun Banerjee underwent multiple grilling by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Narada sting case.

They were among a dozen Trinamool leaders allegedly caught on videotape while receiving money in exchange for a promise to dole out favour to a fictitious company. The clipping was uploaded on the Narada news portal in March 2016.

Pal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on December 30, 2016, in connection with his association with the Rose Valley group, one of the companies under investigation in the ponzi scam. He got bail after spending 13 months in prison in Bhubaneswar.

Lashing out at the Centre's BJP-led dispensation, the Chief Minister said its behaviour was akin to political vengeance.

"This sort of behaviour is akin to political vengeance. Nobody can escape the vengeful plans of the Centre. I am unable to look at Tapas's face. I couldn't see Sultan's body," she said.

Banerjee also expressed concern over the health of Bengal film producer and Shree Venkatesh Films co-founder Shrikant Mohta, who has been under arrest since January last year for his alleged involvement in the Rose Valley case.

"He used to produce a maximum number of Bengali films. Even in murder cases, bail is given after three months. I don't know the exact position of the case. But he is very unwell. He had a cerebral stroke."

In an apparent reference to the arrest of senior journalist Suman Chattopadhyay in connection with the probe into another ponzi scam accused company I-Core Group, Banerjee said he has also now been in jail for over a year.

Pointing at Trinamool Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandopadhyay, who spent over four and half months in jail for his alleged links with the Rose Valley scandal, the Chief Minister said, "He was put in custody for upgrading a (flight) ticket from economy to executive class, despite the money being returned".

"I don't know what the game is. I don't know what the strategy is. If anybody violates the law, then the law will run its course. But that doesn't mean that for days and months they would be subjected to humiliation and insults. Even in murder cases, people get bail after three months."

"I would like to tell artistes those who have worked in various production houses, companies and channels at different times, or become brand ambassadors if their lives turn so terrible and end so tragically, then is that right?" she wondered.

The ponzi scam came to light in 2013 when the Saradha Group companies closed down one after another, unable to return the deposits of investors, who had been lured with the promise of interest at rates much higher than those prevailing in the market.

Several companies were later brought under the ambit of the probe, which the Supreme Court (SC) handed over to the CBI in 2014.

(IANS)