Child trafficking case: CID summons Kailash & Roopa

The state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have summoned BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly to appear for questioning in connection with the child trafficking case in north Bengal that came to light in February this year.

Notices under Section 160 CrPC have been served to both of them on Thursday directing them to turn up at Bhawani Bhavan, CID's headquarters, on July 27 and 29 respectively.

Prashant Sareen, the confidential secretary of Vijayvargiya, and one Vinayak Mishra were also summoned for interrogation by the state's investigating agency.

Names of Vijayvargiya and Ganguly cropped up following the arrest of former state secretary of BJP's Mahila Morcha Juhee Chakraborty from Batasi village along the Indo-Nepal border on March 1. She was arrested for helping the prime accused of the child trafficking racket Chandana Chakraborty to get necessary clearances "illegally" to run her homes — Bimala Sishu Griho, North Bengal People's Development Committee and Ashroy Short Stay Home.

Considering that it was not possible for someone like Juhee or Chandana to traffic children to countries including Spain, Singapore, US and France, the CID officers had started probe to identify the big shots who had helped them to carry it out.

During interrogation, Chandana had revealed that Juhee took her to Delhi to ensure the necessary clearances to continue running the homes in Jalpaiguri. During the Delhi visit, Juhee had initiated talks with Ganguly and Vijayvargiya about the homes behind which all sorts of "illegal activities" of child trafficking used to take place.

It may be recalled that it was Chandana who had requested that the political aspect be probed, claiming that she was being made a "scapegoat" as Juhee was directly involved with the functioning of the homes with some assistance from "big shots" for the past three years. She had also claimed that Juhee had discussions with Ganguly and Vijayvargiya on January 10 and 11 in Delhi and she was kept waiting in a room adjacent to one where they were discussing various issues to ensure "smooth functioning of the homes".

The CID officers had also got hold of a recording of a conversation between Vijayvargiya's confidential secretary Sarin and Juhee. Suspecting that it was Sarin who had allegedly helped Juhee to get an appointment with the party's national general secretary, the CID officers now want to interrogate him as well.

The CID officers had also come to know that Juhee had spoken over phone to someone to evade her arrest. Moreover, during interrogation the investigating officers have taken statements of both Juhee and Chandana. Now, it will be verified while interrogating Vijayvargiya, Ganguly, Sareen and Mishra.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, BJP leader Shamik Bhattacharya has also been summoned by the CID in connection with the alleged corruption into distribution of forms for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna. He has been asked to appear on Friday. Though the BJP leaders have brushed aside the allegations, the CID officers have decided to question Bhattacharya in this connection.