Kolkata, Sep 29 (IANS) : West Bengal Panchayat and Rural Development Minister, Dilip Ghosh, on Tuesday said that corruption in the name of Durga Puja will not be tolerated in the state.
The comments from Dilip Ghosh came hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids in 15 places linked to former state minister Indranil Sen and others in a money laundering investigation.
Speaking to media persons in Midnapore, Ghosh said, “There is no tolerance for corruption, whoever it may be, and no one can act arbitrarily. As soon as a complaint is received, immediate action will be taken. It has already started-collecting money in the name of Durga Puja and engaging in such activities is illegal. The government is taking measures against it.”
On Tuesday morning, a total of 15 premises were covered during the ED raids conducted in connection with alleged financial irregularities in an organisation that ran Durga Puja preview shows.
It is alleged that Mahanirban Road Mass Art Society, led by Indranil Sen’s wife, collected large sums from the public by falsely claiming the money was for a United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)-sponsored entity and used the funds for personal gain, officials said.
Meanwhile, Ghosh claimed that there is no frustration among the people regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of the Election Commission in the state.
“SIR has taken place and the process is still ongoing. It will gradually become clear. But the election has already taken place, and there is no frustration among the people regarding it,” he alleged.
“People cast their votes, the voting percentage increased and a good result was achieved. The Opposition lost, so they have nothing to say,” he said.
Commenting on Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee moving Calcutta High Court seeking restoration of his Z-plus security, the state minister said, “No one needs Z-plus security in Bengal, so why should Z-plus security be given? If there is a corruption case against someone and it is being heard in court, giving them Z-plus security would amount to insulting our administration.”
