Kolkata: An episode involving the family of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee threatens to derail the poll prospects of the ruling TMC ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
According to media reports, Rujira Banerjee, the wife of the second-in-command of TMC and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, was caught with 2kg of gold at Kolkata Airport last Saturday. She had arrived on a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok and while passing through normal screening, was found to be carrying 2kg of gold valued at Rs 68 lakh.
Reports claimed that when customs officials confronted her, she called her husband. In no time, Kolkata police arrived at the airport and whisked her away, leaving customs officials red-faced. Reports also claimed there was a heated exchange between customs officials and Kolkata police over the latter’s action.
The Opposition BJP was quick to flag this issue to expose the Mamata Banerjee government. While Union minister and Asansol MP Babul Supriyo assured, over Twitter, an inquiry into the incident, party leader from the state, Locket Mukherjee, demanded a reply from Abhishek and the chief minister.
Woman caught with a Thai Passport carrying more than 2 KILOs of Gold – when everyone knows she is voter of South KOL • No prize for guessing who the Lady of the Young Powerful Politician IS !! We shall ensure a thorough enquiry is done on this !! pic.twitter.com/N40WwXFgVl
— Chowkidar Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) March 18, 2019
This is BIG!!
Can @abhishekaitc issue a statement on news of her wife caught with 2 kg of gold? Serious charges of smuggling.
Cc @MamataOfficial, in case she want to help bhaipo with a statement. https://t.co/ZeJX8z8bhU
— Chowkidar Locket Chatterjee (@me_locket) March 19, 2019
None of the TMC leaders have spoken on the incident and attempts by mediapersons to get a reaction from Abhishek drew a blank.
BJP insiders said they were collecting more details from central authorities and would make it a poll issue in the days to come.
