A political uproar ensued as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged an income tax department “raid” on a helicopter associated with party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, a claim refuted by tax department sources who clarified that no enforcement action was taken and Banerjee was not present during the incident.
According to sources within the income tax department, a routine team was dispatched to collect information regarding the arrival of a helicopter at Behala Flying Club from Malda in West Bengal. The department clarified that no search or survey was conducted, and the helicopter only carried two security personnel.
However, TMC’s statement on social media painted a different picture, asserting that Banerjee’s helicopter was extensively searched during a trial run at Behala Flying Club. The party accused the BJP of orchestrating such actions to intimidate opposition candidates, reflecting their inability to engage with them politically.
In response, Banerjee criticized the incident, alleging that the BJP’s aim was to disrupt opposition activities in Bengal. He claimed that after finding nothing during the search, IT officials prevented the helicopter from flying and engaged in verbal altercations with security personnel.
The TMC further labeled the BJP as “zamindars” and called for the Election Commission to intervene and prevent any actions that could hinder their election campaign.
Contrarily, BJP’s Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, defended the IT raid as part of efforts to curb black money in election campaigns. Adhikari suggested that Banerjee should have cooperated with officials instead of creating a fuss.
The Election Commission reiterated the mandate for coordination between law enforcement agencies to ensure fair elections, clarifying that the IT department’s actions were in line with this objective.
The incident highlights the tense political atmosphere in West Bengal as parties gear up for the upcoming elections, with allegations and counter-allegations intensifying amidst heightened electoral fervor.
Sources By Agencies
