LI Network
Published on: 24 May 2023 at 13:20 IST
The Supreme Court has agreed to review a petition filed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee challenging a Calcutta High Court order that permitted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to interrogate him regarding the multi-crore School Service Commission recruitment scam.
On Saturday, the CBI had summoned Banerjee for questioning in relation to the case, following the High Court’s decision on Thursday to allow the CBI and ED to interrogate him. Banerjee’s name came up in connection with the case when Kuntal Ghosh, the main accused and one of the arrested individuals, alleged that he was being pressured by central agencies to implicate Banerjee.
Banerjee cooperated with the probe on Saturday and was questioned for more than six hours. The ED also conducted searches at multiple locations in the state in connection with the case.
During the hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday, Abhishek Singhvi, Banerjee’s lawyer, argued that the CBI’s notice was issued immediately after his client’s plea was dismissed by a single bench of the High Court, which also imposed a cost of ₹25 lakh on him. Singhvi further mentioned that the imposition of the cost has been separately challenged. The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the CBI, requested to present arguments at the next hearing.
On Friday, Banerjee had boldly stated, “I challenge the CBI to arrest me if they have any evidence of corruption against me. They have been investigating numerous cases in Bengal for several years. If they have any evidence, they should arrest me.”