Kolkata: The Air Intelligence Unit of Kolkata airport has lodged a complaint against prominent TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira Naroola and another woman a week after 2 kg of gold worth Rs 68 lakh was recovered from their possession after their arrival from Bangkok.
Abhishek is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The incident took place on the intervening night of March 15-16, 2019.
In its complaint, the assistant commissioner of customs have alleged criminal intimidation by the women and obstructing the custom officials from exercising their duties. Abhishek’s wife and the other woman accompanying her had protested when the officials insisted on checking their baggage after their arrival.
Republic TV claimed to be in possession of a copy of the letter in which assistant commissioner of customs S K Biswas has named Abhishek. The complaint has been lodged with the airport police station on March 22.
As reported earlier, when the customs officials confronted her, she called her husband. In no time, Kolkata police arrived at the airport and whisked her away. This had allegedly led a verbal duel between the customs officials and the Kolkata police.
The complaint details Kolkata police’s alleged intervention in the matter adding the police had warned the customs officials that they should “release immediately (Banerjee’s wife) or face problems”.
The incident threatens to derail the poll prospects of the ruling TMC ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Speculation is rife that BJP could make it a major poll issue to corner the Mamata Banerjee government in the run-up to the polls. Party leaders such as union minister Babul Supriyo and state BJP leader Locket Mukherjee had tweeted about the incident last week, seeking reactions from the CM and Abhishek.
None of the TMC leaders has reacted so far about the incident.
