On 30th June, the Calcutta High Court cleared the way for Enforcement Directorate (ED) to take Trinamool Congress (TMC) Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal to Delhi in a case of alleged gold smuggling. This decision by the High Court has come as a big blow to the TMC, which is already grappling with a series of corruption charges and infighting within the party.
The case against Anubrata Mondal, who is known to be a close aide of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, dates back to 2014. The ED had registered a case against him for his alleged involvement in smuggling gold from Bangladesh to India through the land route. Mondal was also accused of money laundering and hawala transactions for the same. The ED had summoned him multiple times in the past few years for questioning, but he had failed to appear before the agency citing various reasons.
In 2020, the ED had filed a charge sheet against Mondal, accusing him of smuggling around 9.5 kg of gold worth over Rs. 3 crore from Bangladesh to India in connivance with some smugglers. The agency had also accused him of using the proceeds of the crime for buying properties in West Bengal and Bihar. The charge sheet stated that Mondal was a key player in the gold smuggling racket that was active in the border areas of West Bengal.
Anubrata Mondal, who is considered to be a powerful leader in Birbhum district, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in the past few years. He has been accused of instigating violence, intimidating voters, and using his goons to silence opposition voices. His alleged involvement in the gold smuggling case has further tarnished his image and that of the TMC.
The Calcutta High Court’s decision to allow the ED to take Mondal to Delhi for questioning is significant in many ways. Firstly, it shows that the judiciary is not hesitating to take action against powerful politicians who are accused of serious crimes. Secondly, it sends a strong message to other politicians that they cannot escape the law and will have to face the consequences of their actions.
The TMC, on the other hand, has termed the High Court’s decision as a political vendetta by the BJP-led central government. The party has accused the ED of being used as a political tool to target opposition leaders. However, the fact remains that the ED is an independent agency that has been mandated to investigate cases of economic offenses and money laundering. If Anubrata Mondal is innocent, he should cooperate with the ED and clear his name instead of playing the victim card.
The case against Anubrata Mondal is not the only one that has put the TMC in a tight spot. The party has been under the scanner for several corruption and financial irregularities cases in the recent past. The Narada sting operation case, in which several TMC leaders were caught on camera accepting bribes, has been one of the biggest embarrassments for the party. The CBI has also been probing the Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund scams in which several TMC leaders are accused of siphoning off public money.
The TMC leadership has been dismissive of these charges and has accused the BJP of using these cases to tarnish the party’s image. However, the fact remains that corruption and financial irregularities are serious charges that cannot be ignored. If the TMC wants to retain its position as a credible political force, it will have to take these charges seriously and take corrective measures.
The exposure of corruption in politics is not a one-off event. Cases like these keep emerging from time to time, against all political shades. It is important to give a resounding message to the violators of law that the law does not discriminate, and no one is above the law. It is hoped that the trial against Anubrata Mondal, if proved guilty after a fair trial, as per sections 135 and 135B of the Customs Act, 1962, will send a strong message to other politicians that the law will catch up with them sooner or later.
In conclusion, the decision of the Calcutta High Court to allow the ED to take Anubrata Mondal to Delhi for questioning in the gold smuggling case is a significant step towards ensuring that justice is served. It is an important reminder to the political class that they are not above the law and will have to face the consequences of their actions. The TMC must take these charges seriously and take corrective action if it wants to retain its position as a credible political force. Only then can it hope to win the trust of the people and maintain its relevance in the ever-changing political landscape of our country.