Expelled CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee was on Tuesday subjected to a grueling six-hours grilling by the Bengal Crime Investigations Department sleuths for his alleged involvement in a sexual exploitation case slapped against him by a woman from Balurghat in South Dinajpur district.
The woman who claimed to be his ex-girl friend had earlier filed criminal complaints against the MP in Delhi and Balurghat where she claimed that the accused had exploited him sexually on a false promise of marriage though the high-profile politician who was expelled from his party for unacceptable lifestyle and anti-party activities said that he had only helped the woman on certain occasions when she approached him as a people’s representative and that he had initially helped her financially.
However, when he stopped her paying as her greed increased she tried to frame him in false case, sources close to the MP said challenging the complainants charges that she was taken to a number of places including the MP’s flat in Delhi where both had entered into close relationships.
Some photographs that tended to buttress the accusations were subsequently posted in the social media.
The woman allegedly visited the MP’s Delhi flat on several occasions, police said.
Notwithstanding Banerjee’s dismissal of the charges leveled against him as an attempt by some other politicians whom he would not name to malign him and “finish my political career” the woman got her medical tests done in Balurghat Hospital and she also recorded her statements before South Dinajpur District Court's Judicial Magistrate(2nd Court), Aminur Rahaman, under CrPC section 164.
The MP was earlier expelled from CPI(M) for trying to victimize an ordinary party member --- by using his position and getting him sacked from his job --- as he had raised questions on his lavish lifestyle. The man had wanted to know in social media why he donned expensive watches.
Back to Kolkata, CID sources said the MP who was questioned for six hours did not cooperate “in a way that he should have been, adding he “was not revealing a lot of things.” The leader would not reveal much on the Whats App messages that were exchanged between him and the complainant a techie.
“We asked questions regarding Whats App messages and text messages exchanged between the two,” but he was not very forthcoming on a number of questions an official said.
Banerjee was earlier granted conditional bail --- upon a personal bond of Rs 5,000 --- by the District and Sessions Judge’s court on conditions that he would cooperate with investigation procedure and that he would surrender before the investigating agencies within three week’s time.
Earlier the CID officials had visited his residence at Garfa in South Kolkata and pasted a summons notice at his house after failing to trace him. After this the police said he was not traceable and his mobile records revealed that he had visited Hong Kong.
The leader had been charged under several IPC sections, including 417, 376(2)/(n), 214, 354, 506 and 509.