TMC not to remove Mukul Roy from party post

Kolkata, Jan 14: Trinamool Congress on Wednesday ruled out removing party General Secretary Mukul Roy from the post in the wake of CBI asking him to appear before it in connection with the Saradha scam and accused BJP for using the investigating agency as its political tool against the party.

Questions are being raised about the conduct of CBI, TMC Secretary-general and state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee told a press conference.

The party, he said, has entrusted Upen Biswas, former Additional Director of CBI and now a minister in Mamata Banerjee government, to advise the party regarding CBI.

"The question (of removing Roy) does not arise. He will remain as the party's (all India) General Secretary and also as MP (of Rajya Sabha). Only because one has been called (by CBI) has he to be removed ?"

"BJP is using it (CBI) as a tool for political vindictiveness. Information is being given in advance as part of the conspiracy to harrass and intimidate...Questions have arisen in the minds of the people about the conduct of CBI.

"Since the day CBI started probing the Saradha case in Bengal, in the name of investigation it is conducting itself at the dictates of BJP leaders to harrass the TMC leaders and is being used to serve the political vendetta," he alleged.

Holding that the party has faith in judiciary, he said, "What CBI is doing is not right. BJP is doing politics of vindictiveness. CBI is being used as political tool."

He said that former CBI Additional Director Biswas and now the Backward Classes Welfare Minister will advise TMC regarding CBI.

"Biswas has been given responsibility by the party for all CBI-related affairs," Chatterjee said. Biswas was the head of the agency's Anti-Corruption Bureau in the East Zone. During his tenure in CBI, he dealt with several cases, including the Bihar fodder scam.

PTI