In a development that could produce far reaching effects in Bengal politics, particularly for the ruling Trinamool Congress a disproportionate asset case was on Monday filed against the family of Mamata Banerjee prompting the Bengal Chief Minister to quickly deny association with her family members saying each unit in her extended family lived separately in the same house.
A case was filed in Calcutta High Court drawing attention of the judiciary on how a number of companies had been formed by people who were family members of the Chief Minister. It also alleged that a number of government and private properties in South Kolkata had been purchased by the kin of the Chief Minister for prices far lower than the existing market rates.
Besides the petitioner, an advocate alleged how some companies that had bobbed up and flourished during and after 2013 a time when the chit fund scam came to light had links with the Chief Minister’s kin. The petition also alleged how a Kolkata Municipal Corporation Councillor who is also a sister-in-law of the Chief Minister --- who lived in the same address --- had failed to reveal the details of properties owned by her son.
Quickly reacting to the reports the Chief Minister said how she was one of those a few politicians who did not accept the pensions she was entitled to as an ex-MP and how she refused to accept the salary as the Chief Minister.
“I am entitled to a pension of Rs one lakh per month as an ex-MP and a salary of more than Rs 3 lakh as a Chief Minister … but I refuse to accept the both … just calculate the total amount I have forgone in the past 10-12 years by refusing these allowances,” Banerjee said.
The Chief Minister also said that “though we live in the same house every unit is independent and we unite only during the Pujas, and other ceremonies,” leading the opposition leaders to say how “Mamata Banerjee casts off not only her political friends but also her own relatives when there is a chance of getting implicated.”