Kolkata: A war of words ensued between CM Suvendu Adhikari and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee over the wads of cash found and seized by cops at Sarisha in Diamond Harbour on Wednesday. While the CM described the haul as “an hour’s income” for the kingpin of the illegal financial operation, Banerjee alleged police planted fabricated evidence to frame his party.CM said Trinamool had siphoned off so much money that “they don’t even remember where they stashed it.” “To them, such sums are merely a day’s or an hour’s worth of money,” he said, alleging large-scale diversion of state revenue.The Diamond Harbour ASP had displayed a haul of Rs 1,02,79,000 seized from a party office in Sarisha. Police said they had been led to the location by Banerjee’s aide Sumit Roy while he was being questioned.Abhishek alleged the cash seizure was part of a plot to manufacture evidence against him and his party. The premises were vandalised by BJP workers six months ago by BJP workers and subsequently turned into a crime scene for investigation.“The deliberate planting of fake and fabricated evidence at a property vandalised six months ago by BJP goons… is a brazen attempt to subvert justice, manipulate investigation and misuse the machinery of law,” he said.Speaking at a news conference with Shamim Ahmed — the TMC neta linked to the office where the seizure took place — Abhishek said Ahmed had been called to the Diamond Harbour SP’s office and threatened. He was asked to either sign documents implicating Banerjee or face arrest.Abhishek further alleged that Ritabrata Banerjee, who leads the rebel TMC block, also advised Shamim to give false testimony against him.“I have documentary evidence of police cars visiting the office on Nov 2. I believe they planted the money then. I have evidence to prove how a section of cops is trying to defame me,” he said.Trinamool MP Mahua Motira alleged cops had threatened to stage an encounter to kill Sumit Roy while he was being moved from one place to another during raids, with a black cloth covering his face.
