Leader of the Opposition in Bengal Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday evening accused chief Mamata Banerjee of harassing him and his family members following a search conducted at a house which he has rented in East Midnapore district’s Kolaghat.
The fracas at Kolaghat forced Adhikari to skip a campaign meeting at Ghatal where the BJP has fielded actor Hiranmay Chattopadhyay against the Trinamul’s Dev.
Talking to the media outside Kolaghat police station, Adhikari blamed Trinamul general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
Earlier in the day, Adhikari had addressed two public meetings at Nandigram and Mecheda. Adhikari said he was on way to the next meeting when he received a call from the caretaker at the guest house that he had taken on rent at Kolaghat. Since becoming the leader of Opposition, Adhikari has refused to take government accommodation and transport.
“I was told the cops, the circle inspector Tamluk Champak Ranjan Chowdhury and officer-in-charge of Kolaghat police station Saurabh Sinha had entered the bedroom,” Adhikari said. “I spoke with Sinha on the phone and asked if they had taken permission from the Calcutta High Court to raid my premises?”
Adhikari said he had to seek protection from the high court after the cops had carried out a raid at another guest-house and office that he has taken on rent in his constituency Nandigram.
“How can they search my room in my absence, without videography, without the presence of the media? What if they had planted fake currency notes, arms or drugs? Who would be responsible for that?” asked Adhikari. “I told them they could carry out their search only with a valid permission from the court and either in my presence or someone authorized by me.”
By the time Adhikari reached the house, the police had left. He went to the Kolaghat police station where BJP supporters raised slogans against the cops.
“Which state are we living in? Mamata Banerjee is deliberately targeting me and my family members. I am being victimized,” said Adhikari outside the Kolaghat police station. “I will complain to the Election Commission. I demand the EC suspend the Circle Inspector and the Officer-in-charge.”
Adhikari said he will move the Calcutta High clCourt on Wednesday against the state police violating the court order.
The sixth phase of polling scheduled for June 25 will be held in the districts of East Midndapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia, which includes the seats of Tamluk and Contai in East Midnapore, the home turf of the Adhikari family.
Suvendu’s younger brother Soumendu is the nominee for the Contai seat, while former justice of the Calcutta high court Abhijit Ganguly is contesting from Tamluk.
