New Delhi, Sept. 12 -- A purported video of businessman Bangshi Dolui alleging that Tarakeswar BJP MLA Santu Pan shut down his snacks factory after he refused to pay Rs 20 lakh has triggered a political controversy.
In the video, which could not be verified, Dolui is heard telling a local BJP leader that Pan had allegedly demanded the money through his personal assistant, whom he identified as Sushovan.
Dolui claimed that a raid was conducted at his factory after he refused to pay the alleged extortion amount. He said he could have paid Rs 20,000 or Rs 50,000, but not Rs 20 lakh. The BJP leader also referred to having heard that Pan had demanded money and that the factory was subsequently closed.
Pan denied the allegations and said food safety officials had inspected the factory after finding that prescribed norms were not being followed. He alleged that the officials were prevented from carrying out their duties and were heckled during the inspection.
Pan also claimed that Dolui had campaigned for the TMC candidate against him during the election. He said his intervention was only aimed at ensuring that food safety officials could perform their duties and denied any role in extortion.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.