BJP-Trinamool tussle: My arrest reflects TMC's good performance in Parl, says Sudip Bandopadhyay

In his first reaction after being arrested, Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandopadhyay has said it was a reflection of his party's good performance in Parliament against demonetisation. 

"It is the reflection of a good performance in the Parliament (by TMC in opposing demonetisation)," Bandopadhyay told reporters while being whisked away to the Kolkata airport. 

Bandopadhyay, who was arrested on Tuesday by the CBI in connection with the Rose Valley scam, was taken to the airport on way to Bhubaneswar for his production in a court there. 

Before that, a routine medical check-up was conducted on the TMC leader. 

A CBI statement said he has been charged under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 408 (criminal breach of trust), 120b (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) and various sections of Prize, Chits and Money Circulation (Banning) Act of 1978. 

Read | Rose Valley scam: Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s arrest sparks fresh tussle between BJP, TMC

Bandopadhyay arrived at the CBI office in the state capital after being summoned by the investigation agency. 

He was arrested after four hours of questioning. He would be interrogated afresh by CBI in Bhubaneswar in the case which was lodged in the Odisha capital. Another TMC MP Tapas Pal, arrested in the same case on December 30, is under CBI custody in Bhubaneswar. 

The arrest has sparked a fresh tussle between the TMC and the BJP that resulted in a violent attack by the ruling party on BJP’s state headquarters that left several people injured.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha claimed 15 party workers were injured in the attack. As the protest continued, a CRPF contingent was rushed to secure BJP office and ensure safety of its workers.

“We appealed to the Union home ministry to send in the CRPF to ensure our safety and security. A contingent of CRPF was sent to BJP office to ensure our safety,” Sinha told PTI.

Stung by Bandyopadhyay’s arrest, a furious Mamata Banerjee accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using central agencies like the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department against his political rivals who were raising their voice against demonetisation.

Mamata alleged that Bandyopadhyay was arrested under “pressure from the PMO” and wondered “why should Narendra Modi and Amit Shah not be arrested?”

(With inputs from PTI)