First a selfie from NYC and then a long post slamming ED; What is Abhishek Banerjee indicating ?

First a selfie and then a post in less than 24 hours! TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, has slammed the Enforcement Directorate in a long social media post, without specifically mentioning the reason for the outburst but called the agency officers “inept and incompetent individuals” engaged in dissemination of “concocted tales” to media. The post under the title “Truth is Mighty and will Prevail”, read “despite investing years and spending taxpayers’ money into their investigative endeavours, they consistently fail to present substantiative evidence before the court, thereby clearly neglecting their responsibility to serve the nation”.

Recently there were media reports alleging that in connection with ongoing probe, the enforcement directorate has allegedly found a money laundering modus operandi using foreigners and their bank accounts. While the reports, published on a Bengali daily, haven’t been officially confirmed by the agency either through any press release or any other statement, the report attributed to ED sources.

Thus, Abhishek’s post where he wrote “It is worth noting that neither the ED nor the media publications, much like the BJP leaders in West Bengal, possess the confidence, courage or conviction to explicitly accuse me in the allegations they espouse”, could also be seen as a response to the media report which came out on Monday without naming him.

Recently a YouTuber had released a video claiming Abhishek Banerjee, has fled the country in order to escape arrest. This at a time where matters of Enforcement Directorate are pending before both Calcutta High Court and Supreme Court pertaining to alleged coal smuggling case and also the much talked about teacher recruitment scam. ED has previously examined Abhishek, his wife and his sister-in-law in connection with coal smuggling probe. CBI has examined him in connection with the teacher recruitment probe. Abhishek had always claimed the charges against him and his family are politically motivated.

ED has so far maintained in court over the teacher recruitment probe, that they are seeking examination of Abhishek Banerjee without any prejudice of him being an accused. The Supreme Court in July asked ED to withdraw a look-out circular against Abhishek and his wife but however had asked the couple to inform the agency and take permission a week before flying out of India. Last week Calcutta High Court in an interim order had asked ED not to take any ‘coercive steps’ against the member of parliament from Diamond Harbour till August 17 while expressing displeasure with the way agency was progressing in the teacher recruitment probe. Court had also asked ED to submit a list of the number of cases they have filed their closure report in the past 5 years. Abhishek Banerjee too on Monday while taking a jibe said “this leaves us no room for surprise as to why the ED conviction rate languishing at a mere 0.5%”

On Sunday, a picture of Abhishek Banerjee in New York had gone viral on social media. He had shared an Instagram story with the caption “Bright Sunny Sunday Morning in NYC”. Wearing shades and a backpack, the selfie spotted him alone. Sources say he posted such a picture, while in abroad, for the first time in order to communicate “his dismissal of any speculative media report claiming his to be absconding”. He has gone there for a medical checkup, as claimed by TMC and as was also submitted before ED prior to leaving for USA. Sources close to Abhishek Banerjee claim that his eye check up post the surgery earlier this year, was pending and the visit was on medical grounds. Sources also added that “the doctors are worried about the eye muscle recovery and has called another round of check up and followed by treatment on August 8”.