National News
Bengal Coal Scam: Abhishek Banerjee’s Wife Stopped From Boarding Dubai Flight, Detained at Kolkata Aiport
Trinamool Congress national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira Narula Banerjee encountered another instance of being prevented from boarding a flight to Dubai at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. She was detained at the airport due to her alleged involvement in the Bengal coal smuggling scandal.
Rujira Banerjee, accompanied by children, was stopped from boarding flight
Rujira, accompanied by her two children, was prevented from boarding her flight upon reaching the Kolkata airport at 7 AM.
Rujira Banerjee has received a summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and is scheduled to be questioned in two days. Today, when she arrived at the airport to catch a flight to Dubai, the immigration department stopped her and refused to allow her to board the flight.
Based on information from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), sources indicate that Rujira was stopped due to the presence of an active look-out circular issued against her.
ED’s allegations
According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Abhishek Banerjee and his family are linked to two companies, namely Leaps and Bound PVT LTD and Leaps and Bound Management Services LLP. The ED alleges that these companies received protection funds totaling Rs 4.37 crore from a construction company through individuals who are under investigation in the coal smuggling case.
Amit Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee’s father, serves as one of the directors of Leaps and Bound Pvt Ltd. Additionally, Rujira Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee’s wife, is a director of Leap and Bound Management Services Limited, along with his father.
Lawyer says she had informed ED about travel plan
According to Rujira Banerjee’s lawyer, she had previously informed the ED by sharing her travel itinerary and a copy of her tickets a few days ago.
“Though not required to intimate, still to express her bonafide, Rujira Banerjee, wife of TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee informed ED through email of her upcoming visit to Dubia from June 5 to June 13 with her children. There was no response/communication from ED objecting to such a visit which they could not have in view of the orders of the Supreme Court,” her lawyer said.
The lawyer, terming the move as gross violation of the Supreme Court’s orders, said, “She was stopped at immigration along with her minor kids and informed that she cannot travel abroad. She was also handed over a copy of summon directing her to appear before the ED office in Kolkata on June 8. We will be moving to court as it has been a violation of SC order.”
According to PTI’s report, multiple attempts to obtain a statement from the airport and ED authorities were unsuccessful, as they did not provide a response.
Coal pilferage scam and connection to Rujira Banerjee
In relation to an investigation into a multi-crore coal pilferage scam, Rujira Banerjee has previously been interrogated by central agencies. The probe is linked to an FIR filed by the CBI in 2020 regarding the said coal pilferage scam.
The alleged illicit mining of coal occurred at leasehold mines in the Kunustoria and Kajora areas near Asansol, West Bengal, belonging to Eastern Coalfields. Investigations have indicated financial transactions amounting to Rs 1,300 crore, with a significant portion of the funds allegedly reaching various influential individuals, as per the CBI.
The investigation has revealed that the money was deposited into foreign bank accounts of these influential individuals through hawala channels. Last year, Rujira Banerjee was questioned by the ED in connection with the coal pilferage scam investigation. The CBI also questioned her in 2021 regarding the same case.
National News
‘Plans underway to arrest CM Atishi’, Arvind Kejriwal big claim
New Delhi, Dec 25: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday claimed that there were plans to arrest Delhi Chief Minister Atishi by framing her in fake cases in the next few days and plans were also underway to conduct raids on senior party leaders ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly election.
This comes after the national capital’s Health and Family Welfare department red-flagged the ruling AAP’s registration drive for Sanjeevani Yojana, a scheme to provide free treatment to Delhi’s residents over 60 at private and government hospitals. In a public notice published in newspapers on Wednesday, the department said that it does not have “any such supposed Sanjeevani scheme in existence”. It added that it had not authorised anyone to collect personal data from elderly citizens and is not providing any card. The department said any individual or political party collecting such forms under the name of this scheme is “fraudulent and without any authority”.
Kejriwal claimed that Delhi Chief Minister Atishi would soon be arrested in a fake case as some people were rattled by the AAP government’s announcement of welfare initiatives like the Mahila Samman Yojana and the Sanjeevani Yojana.
“These people are badly upset by the Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana. They have planned to arrest Atishi ji in the next few days by making a fake case. Before that, raids will be conducted on senior AAP leaders. I will hold a press conference on this today at 12 o’clock,” Kejriwal said in a post on X.
The two AAP flagship schemes — Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana — were announced in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly Elections scheduled early next year. Kejriwal started the registration process of the two schemes aimed at women and senior citizens on Tuesday and held the door-to-door campaign.
Non-tax-paying eligible women will get Rs 1,000 per month in the Mahila Samman Yojana. The Sanjeevani Yojana promises free healthcare in government and private hospitals for senior citizens if AAP comes to power.
This comes after AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Atishi and party convener Arvind Kejriwal, visited several areas and launched doorstep registration for the Sanjeevani Yojana and Mahila Samman Yojana.
National News
Fraudulent, without authority: Two Delhi govt departments red-flag AAP’s ‘election’ schemes
New Delhi, Dec 25: The Department of Women and Child Development and the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Delhi, on Wednesday issued a public notice refuting claims regarding the existence of the ‘Sanjeevani Scheme’ and ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana.’
The Women and Child Development Department stated it has been alerted through media and social media reports that a political party is claiming to offer ₹2,100 per month to women in Delhi under the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana.’
The department clarified, “No such scheme has been notified by the Delhi government.”
The public notice, published in national newspapers, emphasised, “Since no such scheme is in existence, the question of accepting forms or applications for registration under this non-existent scheme does not arise. Any private person or political party collecting forms or information under this name is committing fraudulent and has no authority.”
Similarly, the Health and Family Welfare Department denied the existence of claims promising free medical treatment for individuals aged 60 and above at all government or private hospitals in Delhi, regardless of income criteria.
The department urged citizens to disregard such promises, terming them “misleading and unauthorised.” It also declared it would not bear responsibility for any liabilities or fraudulent activities arising from these false claims.
These statements come in the wake of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) door-to-door registration drive for two alleged welfare schemes: the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana,’ which promises ₹2,100 monthly to women, and the ‘Sanjeevani Yojana,’ which assures free medical treatment for individuals aged above 60 years.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seized the opportunity to bash AAP and its national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
Delhi BJP vice president Kapil Mishra slammed Kejriwal for misleading the public, stating, “What a big fraud Kejriwal is committing with the sisters of Delhi. On one side, Kejriwal is getting women to fill forms; on the other side, the Delhi government’s notice in today’s newspapers says there is no such scheme, and these forms are fake.”
Mocking the AAP leader, he concluded, “Wah re Farjiwal.”
National News
‘Delhi Chalo’ March: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Accuses Centre Of Ignoring Farmers’ Demands
Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday hit out at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government for what he alleged, meting out step-motherly treatment to the farmers by not even giving them an opportunity to air their demands.
In a statement, the chief minister alleged that Prime Minister Modi appeared to be more worried about intervening in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine but was indifferent towards the farmers.
Mann further alleged that despite the immense contribution of farmers, the Union government appears to have adopted a hostile attitude towards them and held that it is strange that the Union government is not ready to talk to farmers sitting 200 km away from the national capital.
Urging the Union government to shun its haughty attitude and open way for dialogue with the agitating farmers, Mann said that the centre should not wait for any special moment to talk to the farmers, rather it should hold talks with the farmers and redress their grievances immediately.
Earlier in the day, Mann also posted on X: “ The central government should abandon its old stubbornness and open the way for talks with the farmers’ organizations… A cat does not run away when a pigeon winks.. I don’t know what penance the central government is doing now?? If Modi ji can stop the war between Russia and Ukraine, then can’t he talk to the breadwinners sitting 200 kilometers away? What time are you waiting for..’’
It may be recalled that a large number of farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana under the aegis of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha since February 13 last and had repeatedly attempted to take out their “Delhi chalo’’ foot-march towards Delhi but were stopped by the Haryana police by lobbing teargas shells and using water cannons which left several farmers injured.
Also, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, 70, a cancer patient, has also been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border since November 26 last to press for farmers’ various demands including MSP for crops and debt waiver. The doctors attending on him have also expressed their concerns about his worsening health.
-
Maharashtra3 months ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Crime2 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra3 months ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News2 months ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra2 months ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Crime2 months ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
-
Maharashtra1 month ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News3 months ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface