Kolkata, Nov. 6 -- MAITC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday accused police personnel of helping Opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee by allegedly preparing and signing affidavits in his support inside police stations, claiming to possess video footage of the exercise.
Speaking to the media outside his Kalighat residence, Abhishek alleged that police officers were not merely pressuring elected representatives to sign affidavits in Ritabrata's support but were themselves filling out and signing documents in the names of others. He claimed that Sub-Inspectors, Assistant Sub-Inspectors and constables were involved in preparing such affidavits. The affidavits in question were allegedly obtained from elected representatives, including panchayat members and candidates, in support of both factions of TMC in the dispute over the party's name and election symbol.
"Police personnel are sitting inside police stations and filling up affidavits in the names of others and signing them. I have video footage of what happened inside the police station," he said, adding that he would submit the footage to the Supreme Court and Election Commission.
Abhishek alleged that elected representatives, including Panchayat members and candidates, were being threatened and coerced into signing affidavits. Citing the case of Basirhat North MLA Tauseef Rahman, he claimed that the local Superintendent of Police had called him and instructed him to submit an affidavit supporting Ritabrata.
Dilip Ghosh, reacting to the allegations, said: "He should submit the information to the court. Everyone knows whose money is where and how much. Now his own people have spoken up."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.