KOLKATA: A political row erupted in Bengal on Sunday after Trinamool Congress complained to Election Commission about an “income tax search” of a helicopter undergoing pre-flight checks at Kolkata’s Behala Flying Club ahead of MP and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee‘s scheduled campaign trip.
TMC portrayed the search as another example of a “nexus” between EC and BJP.”EC and BJP chose to deploy minions from I-T department to search and raid my chopper and security personnel,” Abhishek said in a statement on X, adding that nothing was found.
I-T sources denied there was “any such search or enforcement action” against Abhishek. But PTI quoted unnamed officials that “an I-T team was sent in a routine manner to collect information of the arrival of a helicopter at Behala Flying Club to fulfil its mandate of coordinating with law enforcement agencies to ensure free and fair elections“.
Abhishek is scheduled to travel to Haldia on Monday for party meetings to boost the organisation in East Midnapore, BJP member Suvendu Adhikari’s home turf.
An alleged face-off between Abhishek’s security personnel and I-T officials fuelled the controversy.
Bengal govt officials said the I-T team “forced Abhishek’s security staff to delete the videos they had shot before they left”.
The chopper was conducting trials at the flying club along with the security personnel on Sunday when I-T officials stepped in. They searched all bags and belongings kept in the chopper.
This reportedly led to a verbal spat between the I-T officials and Abhishek’s security detail.
In its complaint, TMC named the two officers who searched the chopper and demanded that EC issue “appropriate directions(s)/order(s) to the I-T department from taking any steps against AITC and its functionaries during the ensuing elections”.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar had some information. I am not their spokesperson. They can say why this search happened.”
TMC portrayed the search as another example of a “nexus” between EC and BJP.”EC and BJP chose to deploy minions from I-T department to search and raid my chopper and security personnel,” Abhishek said in a statement on X, adding that nothing was found.
I-T sources denied there was “any such search or enforcement action” against Abhishek. But PTI quoted unnamed officials that “an I-T team was sent in a routine manner to collect information of the arrival of a helicopter at Behala Flying Club to fulfil its mandate of coordinating with law enforcement agencies to ensure free and fair elections“.
Abhishek is scheduled to travel to Haldia on Monday for party meetings to boost the organisation in East Midnapore, BJP member Suvendu Adhikari’s home turf.
An alleged face-off between Abhishek’s security personnel and I-T officials fuelled the controversy.
Bengal govt officials said the I-T team “forced Abhishek’s security staff to delete the videos they had shot before they left”.
The chopper was conducting trials at the flying club along with the security personnel on Sunday when I-T officials stepped in. They searched all bags and belongings kept in the chopper.
This reportedly led to a verbal spat between the I-T officials and Abhishek’s security detail.
In its complaint, TMC named the two officers who searched the chopper and demanded that EC issue “appropriate directions(s)/order(s) to the I-T department from taking any steps against AITC and its functionaries during the ensuing elections”.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar had some information. I am not their spokesperson. They can say why this search happened.”