CBI questions Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira for 1.5 hours; what next?

Mamata Banerjee dropped by at her nephew's residence ahead of CBI questioning.

Officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned Rujira Banerjee, wife of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, at their Harish Mukherjee Road house for an hour and a half on Tuesday afternoon. After talking to her, an eight-member CBI team returned to their Nizam Palace office on AJC Bose Road.

Rujira Banerjee was questioned in connection with the illegal coal trading case in West Bengal that has been under investigation for some time. On Monday, she had responded to a CBI notice that had asked her to be available for questioning. Though she mentioned in her letter that she was “unaware of the reason” for questioning or the subject matter of investigation, the officer concerned could visit her residence on February 23.

A CBI team had accordingly visited the house today to question her in connection with the case. The CBI team is expected to come up with the next course of action, which is not clear yet.

Earlier in the day, there was high drama outside Abhishek Banerjee’s Harish Mukherjee Road house, as his aunt, chief minister Mamata Banerjee dropped by, ahead of the CBI officers’ visit. She stayed inside for around 10 minutes, after which she left in her vehicle, but was accompanied by Abhishek’s daughter, who came down to see her off.

At one point of time, it was unclear whether Banerjee would be present during the CBI officers’ visit, as the CBI team had left their Kolkata office by then to reach Harish Mukherjee Road. However, the CM left her nephew’s residence before the CBI team reached there. It appeared that she was there to show her solidarity and give them assurance and strength.

CBI officers had, on February 21 afternoon — at around 2 PM — served a notice in the house for Rujira Banerjee to be questioned. Yesterday, her sister (Abhishek Banerjee’s sister-in-law) was questioned by the CBI officers. Ahead of the Assembly polls, the CBI sending notices and questioning those close to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee has created quite a stir in the political circles of West Bengal.

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