NEW DELHI: A pre-dawn raid on the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has ignited a political controversy, with the party accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in political vendetta.
Details of the Raid
The operation, conducted by a large contingent of Kolkata Police accompanied by central forces, took place early Saturday. According to police sources, officers arrived at Banerjee's Kalighat residence and called out to the occupants. When there was no response, the team allegedly broke open locks to enter the premises and carried out a search lasting approximately 90 minutes.
A senior officer stated that the raid was in connection with a case filed at a police station in Paschim Medinipur district.
Political Reactions
TMC Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra claimed that the search yielded no seizures. She posted on X: "So @KolkataPolice arrives at 3 am at @abhishekaitc's home, breaks open the door and searches for 90 minutes only to find nothing. Zero seizure, 100% vendetta. BJP will try everything. Intimidation and money will not make you win in 2029."
Party Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose also condemned the action, sharing a photo of a police note. She wrote: "3 AM Saturday June 13. Police arrive at Abhishek Banerjee's @abhishekaitc's Kalighat residence in Kolkata. 5 AM: Disaster Management team called in to break open locks. 6:30 AM: Search begins, from second floor to terrace, lasting 90 minutes. Outcome? Seizure report says: NIL. No evidence. No wrongdoing. NOTHING." Ghose added: "Just political vendetta, intimidation and mental torture. Operation Lotus is targeting every leader who refuses to surrender to the BJP's diktat. Disgraceful attack on an opposition leader. VINDICTIVE, CONNIVING, s*****g LOW-LIFE tactics. SHAME."
Mamata Banerjee Rushes to Spot
TMC supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is Abhishek Banerjee's aunt, rushed to the residence upon learning of the operation.
The raid comes just two days after the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) questioned Abhishek Banerjee in connection with an alleged forged-signature case linked to the West Bengal assembly. Additionally, multiple investigating agencies have issued fresh summons to him.
This development has further escalated tensions between the TMC and BJP, with the former alleging a pattern of intimidation against opposition leaders.
