Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has denied recommending Anjan Bhattacharya, who is now in police custody for impersonating Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's brother, for a job.
Professor Sen has said he has “no recollection of any Anjan Bhattacharya,” according to a statement issued here on Thursday by the Pratichi (India) Trust, of which he is chairman.
It was stated earlier by the former Housing Minister, Gautam Deb, that Mr. Bhattacharya had been recommended by Professor Sen for a job in the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation.
According to the statement, Professor Sen has said “he could not have recommended him [Mr. Bhattacharya] to Mr. Gautam Deb or anyone else.”
Professor Sen, who is in Brazil, had been contacted by the Trust for his views.
“He is appalled at the suggestion that he could have recommended this person, whom he does not know. He is astonished that his name has been invoked in the context of this debate,” said the statement.
Mr. Bhattacharya, who is in the CID custody, was arrested at Kanthi in Purba Midnapore on April 21 for impersonating Kartick Banerjee – Ms. Banerjee's brother.
