Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would try to find a way out so that the money attached by the Enforcement Directorate during investigations into various scams in Bengal could be “returned” to the people.

During a phone call on Tuesday with BJP's Krishnanagar candidate Amrita Roy, the Prime Minister said the money belonged to the "poor people" and he was seeking “legal advice” so that necessary “legal provisions are explored” once the new government was formed.

Roy has been pitted against the Trinamul Congress's Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from Parliament over "cash for query" charges. Moitra's rival is the wife of a descendant of Nadia King Krishnachandra Roy (1710-1783).

Modi's announcement has triggered a political row with Trinamul raising questions about the Prime Minister’s authority to disburse confiscated money associated with sub-judice matters.

Modi enquired Roy about campaigning and encouraged her to take the challenge of saving the "tradition and culture of Bengal". The audio clip of the conversation was made public by the BJP.

While speaking about cases of corruption in Bengal, Modi expressed his “desire” to return Rs 3,000 crore attached by ED. He said: "There are two camps now — one is to end corruption and the other is to save the corrupt ones who have come together to save each other. The nation is not their priority... whereas we are committed to making the country free of corruption”.

Aware that his promise to disburse such money involved legal issues, the PM added: “If I get legal advice then once the new government is formed, necessary legal provisions would be explored for this Rs 3,000 crore, or whatever the amount taken as the bribe, that belonged to the poor people will be returned.”

Modi advised Roy to tell people about his plan to disburse the money.

“Please tell the people that you talked with Modiji and to believe that the Rs 3,000 crore attached by the ED will be returned to them. For this I will try my best to find a way out," the Prime Minister told Roy.

The ED has been investigating several high-profile corruption cases in Bengal. They dealt with the school teacher recruitment "scam", municipality recruitment "scam" and coal "scam", in which prominent Trinamul leaders and senior government officials were allegedly involved.

While former minister Partha Chatterjee and Jyoti Priya Mallick are in jail, investigations into these cases continue. During the investigations, rupees of a few thousand cores have been attached by the ED with the highest amount being Rs 27.90 crore confiscated from the flat of Chatterjee's friend Arpita Mukherjee on July 27, 2022.

However, returning the confiscated money, which was allegedly paid to the accused persons as a "bribe", could become difficult until the cases are settled in court.

Roy, however, appeared optimistic about the PM's promise and said returning the money was possible.

"What Modiji said regarding returning the looted money to the poor people is not a gimmick. But definitely, it requires time and framing legal provisions. Modiji is against corruption and he can make it possible," said Roy.

"I joined the BJP only because of Modiji's fight against corruption and on my part, I shall put 100 per cent effort to materialise his endeavour," she told The Telegraph.

However, senior Trinamul Congress leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy termed Modi's promise illegal.

"The model code of conduct has come into effect. Making such a promise ahead of the poll is anti-constitutional and a violation of EC guidelines," he said.

Sukhendu said: "The money has been attached by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Cases have been filed against all accused persons and the matters are sub-judice. In such a situation, nobody can make such a promise,” Sukhendu said while terming Modi's statement as an "interference with the administration of justice".

Trinamul also asked whether Modi would take similar initiatives for the money attached by ED in other states.

Trinamul spokesperson Kunal Ghosh termed Modi's plan as a "fake promise".

"If Narendra Modi is eager to pay the people of Bengal, he should arrange to pay the states deserving dues under 100 days' job scheme, housing scheme and other payments that his government has put on hold."

CPM MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya echoed Ghosh and described Modi's promise as another "jumla".