CBI's act politically motivated:Subhash Chakraborty

Kolkata, Jul 3 (UNI) Assailing the CBI for having arrested a CPI(M) leader in connection with the Tapasi Malik murder case, West Bengal Transport Minister Subhash Chakraborty today alleged that the act of the central agency was politically motivated.

"The CBI is doing whatever it likes. Its only intention is to strike at the roots of the Communist party," he told reporters at the state Secretariat.

In an obvious criticism of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Mr Chakraborty said it was a blunder to have the case probed by the CBI.

"The arrest of Suhrid Dutta, a respectable leader and the Singur zonal committee Secretary is politically motivated. Never in future shall we ask CBI to investigate any case," he said.

The maverick CPI(M) Minister, who is known for his penchant for kicking up controversies argued that it was not believable that a leader of the stature of Dutta would appoint people for murdering a young girl. His comments were, however, in line with his party which had already described Dutta's arrest as an act of 'political conspiracy' against the party.

The party had decided to render all legal assistance to Dutta in fighting the case and launch a campaign against the 'design' among the people.

Dutta, who was instrumental in getting the consent of Singur farmers for sale of their land for the Tata Motors's small car project, was arrested by CBI sleuths on June 28 following interrogation of Debu Malik, a CPI(M) supporter, who reportedly confessed to have committed the crime along with four other people.

Both of them were now undergoing CBI interrogation.

The body of 18-year-old Tapasi, a resident of Bajemelia village in Singur, was found charred to death inside the project area of Tata Motors on December 18 last year during the height of anti-land acquisition movement.

Claiming that Tapasi was an active member of the Singur Krishi Jami Raksha Committee, the Trinamool Congress alleged that CPI(M) men had raped and murdered her to settle a political vendetta.

UNI