The State Congress leadership criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s “campaign against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)” here on Thursday. He said she was doing so, fearing that a CBI probe into the multi- crore chit fund scam of the Saradha Group would expose her party’s links with the company and “will prove damaging to their [Trinamool Congress’] reputation”.
“A Chief Minister should not invite comments against a Central investigating agency. It is ridiculous for her to do so,” PCC President Pradip Bhattacharya said referring to Ms. Banerjee’s post on Facebook on Wednesday.
“Please see what the Hon’ble Supreme Court has said – “CBI has become caged parrot speaking in master’s voice.” What do you think? Opinion please,” she had posted on her Facebook page.
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He said a State government can reject the demand for a CBI probe but it is “unheard of a Chief Minister mobilising opinion with the intention of discrediting a central investigating agency.”
Asked whether the State unit had demanded the CBI probe with the Centre, Mr. Bhattacharya said the Congress’s Central leadership was aware of the demand.
“We have raised the issue with our Central leadership. But a CBI inquiry cannot be ordered unless the State government seeks such an inquiry and the Calcutta High Court directs so,” he said.
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Biman Bose, chairperson, State Left Front Committee, reiterated the demand for a CBI probe .
“We are well aware that CBI is not above suspicion. Therefore we are demanding CBI probe under the supervision of the Calcutta High Court.”