Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday gave a free hand to police and district administrations to take action against those involved in extortion, fake appointments and illegal mining of sand and other natural resources without considering their political affiliations.

The free hand to the police and the administration assumes significance at a time when Opposition parties have mounted an attack on alleged corruption by local Trinamul Congress leaders across Bengal.

“It is a clear directive to all DMs, SPs and ICs that illegal activities like fake appointment, extortion, looting money in the name of chit funds should be dealt with…. I will not tolerate corruption like illegal sand mining or rampant cutting of trees. You will not have to see their (political) colours. If the allegation is right, you go ahead and take action,” the chief minister said during an administrative review meeting she conducted virtually from the state secretariat with district magistrates and superintendents of police.

“No one (from the government) will prevent you from taking action in this connection.… I am giving you the directives. Party does not allow anyone to be involved in corruption. This party is to serve the people. If anyone extorts money to fill his or her pockets, the party will not allow it,” she added.

Mamata added that action should also be taken against people involved in corruption in various central government schemes.

“There are many people involved in extorting money by providing fake appointment letters for central government jobs. So, anyone who is involved in corruption at panchayat, municipality, district or at any other level, you take stern action against each and everybody. When I am telling you ‘each and everybody’, it is each and every body,” Mamata added.

Several government officials and Trinamul leaders said in private that Mamata’s directives was a clear message to her party colleagues both at the grassroots and senior levels that she would not allow anyone to fill up his or her pockets illegally and thus maligning the image of her party that she had built over decades.

“The allegations of corruption against a large number of leaders are not false as their properties raised questions among public. Didi wanted to clear her stand before the party as she has realised that the BJP is gearing up for the general election in 2024. The allegation of corruption is one of the main reasons behind many law and order crises like Bogtui massacre where extortion was an issue,” said a senior Trinamul leader.

At Bogtui near Rampurhat, the slain Trinamul deputy chief of Barshal gram panchayat was accused of involvement in extortion of money from sand mining or stone crushers. The CBI has also started probing into the money laundering aspect of the murder, following which nine persons were massacred.

The incident tarnished the image of the party and raised questions on law and order. The chief minister rushed to Rampurhat to control the damage.Trinamul insiders said a large number of leaders in districts, including MLAs, always intervened in actions taken by superintendents of police or district magistrates and tried to influence them when the officials moved against the ruling party.

After Mamata’s meeting, at least two district magistrates and police chiefs welcomed the directive and said their work would be easier now.

“It is not that the chief minister directed action against corrupt leaders for the first time. But today’s directive was very clear for us as it was very specific,” said a district magistrate.

Mamata also sent a clear message for the senior district and police officers that she would monitor them as well and keep a tab on their activities. Mamata said she had received many allegations against Bankura district magistrate K. Radhika Aiyar and directed her to give a report after looking into those charges herself.

“I received many allegations against the Bankura district magistrate. I will request you to look into the matter yourself,” said the chief minister.

Sources in Trinamul said some Maoist posters in the Jungle Mahal had levelled allegations of corruption against leaders citing how their assets had grown in recent years.

“Around half a dozen Maoist posters were found in West Midnapore today (Wednesday) naming two Trinamul leaders and sought the return of the money they had allegedly earned through corruption,” said a Trinamul leader.