CBI Summons Abhishek Banerjee Hours After SC Stays Probe Order

Picture courtesy aitcofficial.org

New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday in connection with the teachers’ recruitment scam in West Bengal.

The CBI notice was hand-delivered to TMC’s and party’s general secretary, who happens to be CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, on Monday afternoon.

Interestingly, the Supreme Court hours earlier on Monday stayed a Calcutta High Court order directing central probe agencies to question Abhishek in connection with the teachers’ recruitment scam.

“In its desperation to ‘harass’ and ‘target’ me, BJP EXPOSES CBI & ED to CONTEMPT OF COURT! SC stayed the Calcutta HC’s order in the morn that granted permission to the Central Agencies to summon me. Yet, the ‘SUMMON’ was HAND-DELIVERED today at 1:45 pm. Grave State of affairs!” tweeted Abhishek.

On April 13, a single-judge Calcutta High Court bench directed that Abhishek and Kuntal Ghosh, another accused in the jobs-for-bribes scam, can be questioned by Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI. The court further directed West Bengal Police not to lodge any FIR against CBI and ED officers probing the case.

On Monday, a Supreme Court bench of paused the central agencies’ probe against Abhishek for his alleged involvement in the case. The apex court also paused the high court order directing West Bengal Police not to file FIR against CBI and ED officers probing the recruitment scam.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwalam will hear the case on April 24.