Mamata Banerjee pays tribute to Tapas Paul, says ‘Centre’s pressure claimed so many lives’ | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Mamata Banerjee pays tribute to Tapas Paul, says ‘Centre’s pressure claimed so many lives’

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByHT Correspondent
Feb 19, 2020 01:56 PM IST

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress boss Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the Centre while paying tribute to former party MP Tapas Paul who died in Mumbai on Monday. “Central government’s pressure has claimed so many lives. Three people died due to this pressure by the agencies.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress boss Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the Centre while paying tribute to former party MP Tapas Paul who died in Mumbai on Monday.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pays tribute to Tapas Paul on Wednesday.(ANI Photo)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pays tribute to Tapas Paul on Wednesday.(ANI Photo)

“Central government’s pressure has claimed so many lives. Three people died due to this pressure by the agencies. Sultan Ahmed (former TMC MP), TMC MP Prasun Banerjee’s wife passed away and now Tapas Paul,” said Banerjee.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

“People are being jailed but central agencies have not been able to prove their involvement or conclude what crime they committed. If someone commits a crime, they must face action. But we still don’t know what crime did Tapas Paul and others commit,” she added.

ALSO WATCH | Bengali actor and former TMC MP Tapas Paul dies of cardiac arrest

Paul, who was elected to the Lower House of Parliament from Krishnanagar constituency in 2009 and 2014, passed away following a cardiac arrest in Mumbai. He was 61.

The last few years of his life were riddled with controversies. In 2015, Paul was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Saradha chit fund case. In 2016, the agency arrested him in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam. He was in custody for 13 months before a court in Odisha gave him bail.

The Bengali actor-politician was a board member of Rose Valley Marketing India Ltd and Idea Projects Ltd - two companies of the group - for brief periods over two financial years since 2009.

The Trinamool Congress held the Centre guilty of “mentally torturing” him and pursuing “political vendetta” against him, a charge rejected as “baseless” by the BJP, which said the actor paid for the “sins” of his party who had used him as a scapegoat.

Several top Trinamool leaders have either been jailed or named in the multi-crore Saradha scam that has allegedly defrauded millions of people - mostly poor - by promising returns higher than what banks offer.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On