The Calcutta High Court on Thursday dismissed Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee’s appeal against an earlier court order that permitted the central investigation agencies — CBI and ED — to question him in connection with an ongoing probe into recruitment irregularities of teachers in the state’s schools.
Responding to a query on the legal development, Banerjee hinted that he would move the higher court.
The court also rejected a plea by Kuntal Ghosh. Ghosh is under arrest and had alleged that investigation officials had pressured him to name Banerjee in the scam. The court imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh each to both Banerjee and Ghosh.
Banerjee, currently on his two-month-long outreach programme, said that as a citizen he has the option to move to the high court’s division bench, or the Supreme Court. “I assure the people that if any investigating agency summons me during our programme, I will stall the yatra for a day and cooperate with the probe procedure,” he said.
“I am again stating that there is no need for CBI or ED probe — rather if they have any proof against me, hang me for the crime,” he said.
Earlier, in an order, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of the Calcutta HC had permitted ED and CBI to interrogate Banerjee and Ghosh.
Two facts were noted: Banerjee’s statement in a public meeting that some people, when in custody, were pressured to name him (as one involved), and Ghosh’s complaint, in close proximity with the said speech. Ghosh had alleged being pressurised by investigators to name Banerjee.