Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday verbally requested the state government not to take any coercive action against former Trinamool Congress MLA from Rajarhat-Gopalpur, Aditi Munshi, and her husband, Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) councillor Debraj Chakraborty, in an alleged disproportionate assets case until June 19. The court also granted interim protection to BMC mayor-in-council Tulsi Sinha Roy in a separate case until June 22.
Case Details and Court Proceedings
The investigation officer has been directed to file a comprehensive report on June 19, when the matter will be next heard by Justice Jay Sengupta. The state, represented by Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Mazumder, opposed the anticipatory bail plea of the couple, arguing that they had amassed properties worth far exceeding their disclosed income sources.
Allegations of Property Disposal
Mazumder submitted that to avoid disclosing the actual assets and to "give a cleaner affidavit of assets for elections," the couple allegedly disposed of properties through benami transactions, gifts, and devaluing properties. He termed it an economic offence requiring further investigation.
Complaint and Arguments
A complaint was filed against the couple, alleging that with an income of Rs 40 lakh and Rs 66 lakh respectively, they had amassed properties worth Rs 100 crore over the last five years. The couple, represented by senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, argued that although the complaint was filed before elections, the FIR was registered only after the results. Bhattacharyya submitted that transferring property is not illegal and that no case for organized crime is made out as there is no allegation of extortion or land grabbing. He added that Income Tax authorities can take action for non-disclosure of income.
Separate Case for Tulsi Sinha Roy
In a related matter, Tulsi Sinha Roy had sought anticipatory bail after an FIR was lodged against her on May 19, alleging extortion from hawkers. The court granted her interim protection until June 22, and the matter will be heard next on June 15.
