Kolkata: Even as the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate has issued a third summons to former state minister and Trinamool Congress functionary Aroop Biswas and the Monday deadline approaches, there is still no clarity on the plan of action by the former minister.
When pressed for confirmation, Biswas’s legal team steadfastly refused to comment on whether the ex-minister would present himself before the Bidhannagar South PS investigators. The defense counsel declined to commit to his physical attendance while simultaneously refusing to dismiss the possibility of his compliance, leaving his next move in the high-profile sports-event probe under wraps.
Biswas has been asked by the Bidhannagar Police to appear before investigators by Monday in connection with the controversial Lionel Messi “GOAT India Tour” event held at the Salt Lake Stadium last Dec.
The 48-hour notice, mailed via the New Alipore police to Biswas’s residence, follows a recent high court order granting him interim protection from coercive action until Aug 17. However, the court’s relief came with strict riders, requiring Biswas to surrender his passport, remain in the city without prior judicial clearance, and cooperate fully with the investigation by responding to timely summonses. Additionally, the Bengal DG & IGP has been directed to submit details of any other pending criminal proceedings against the neta.
Beleghata TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh also reached the CID headquarters around 3.30 pm on Sunday, responding to a CID summons in the signature-gate investigation. Ghosh had been summoned separately by the agency to face concurrent questioning in connection with the same political scandal.
Before entering Bhawani Bhawan, a visibly relaxed Ghosh said that he would “always cooperate with the probe agencies.” “I will answer as best as I can. All I know is that the signature there is mine. I cannot vouch for the rest,” he said as he spoke to the media while eating an ice cream.
The CID had earlier served a notice to Kamarhati MLA Madan Mitra in the signaturegate case. Last Friday, CID officers went to his residence in Kamarhati and handed him the notice. A close associate of Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee, Madan confirmed that he had received it.
The Kamarhati MLA said, “I was given a notice. I have received it, but I have not yet been summoned. The CID only informed me that the notice had been served.” It is understood that Mitra has been asked to assist with the investigation into the forgery case.
The Kamarhati MLA has long been a close associate of the Trinamool chief and has made it clear that he continues to stand with her. Against this backdrop, speculation is growing over the CID notice served to him.