Thaindian News

Kolkata, April 26 (IANS) West Bengal Housing Minister and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) heavyweight Gautam Deb Tuesday said the Election Commission should have taken cognisance of and investigated the “black money” used by the Trinamool Congress during its campaign for the state assembly elections.

“It is the duty of the EC to probe into the allegation. And without delaying, they should have taken suo moto cognisance and investigated into black money used by the Trinamool. Delay will cause problems in getting witnesses and evidence, hindering the investigations,” said Deb after meeting state chief electoral officer (CEO) Sunil Gupta.

There are several instances where the EC had taken cognizance and initiated suo motto case into several issues, he said.

Deb was summoned by the CEO to provide evidence in support of his complaint alleging that the Trinamool was using a huge amount of black money for canvassing.

He had alleged that all but one of the 226 Trinamool candidates have been given Rs.15 lakh each, and fake coupons had been issued in an attempt to show that the money was collected from the public.

“I have met the CEO and given him some evidence in support of my complaint. I have also informed him that I am ready to meet the EC’s full bench in this regard,” said Deb.

He also said EC should unearth the source of Trinamool’s huge money. “It is the duty and responsibility of the EC to enquire into the expenditure incurred for hiring two helicopters by the Trinamool for campaigning and the expenses made to keep the helicopters moving. People of Bengal also should know it,” said Deb.

“Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee had claimed that the money spent for her party’s election expenses were collected from her paintings exhibition. Everyone has every right to know who are the people and how many lakhs they spent for Banerjee’s paintings. EC should also look into it,” he said.

“I have evidence in support of my complaint and I am also trying to get the details of Banerjee’s painting exhibition. But it is the duty and the responsibility of the EC to probe the matter,” reiterated Deb.

Meanwhile, a court here Tuesday took cognisance of a defamation case filed against Deb by the Trinamool for alleging that the party was using black money to fund its election expenses.

“We had sent a legal notice to him (Deb). We haven’t received any reply yet, so we decided to approach the court,” Trinamool leader and union Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy said outside the court.

“We have filed a case of criminal defamation. After hearing our plea the honourable court took cognisance and ordered that the process be started,” added Roy.

The court has ordered Deb to appear before it May 26, Roy’s lawyer said.

Six-phased assembly elections are being held in West Bengal April 18-May 10. The results will be declared May 13.