'Either prove charges or quit Bengal'

Kolkata: Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress MP and All India Trinamool Youth Congress president on Tuesday filed a criminal defamation case against Mukul Roy and said he would quit politics if the latter could prove the charges levelled against him.

"I will quit politics if Mukul Roy can prove the charges against me," Banerjee said adding " Roy should either prove the allegation or quit Bengal." Banerjee went to Bankshall Court and filed the case.

Earlier, Banerjee had filed the Civil defamation suit against Roy at Alipurduar Court. The civil judge (senior division) on November 22 had restrained Roy from making any statement that " may reveal or may tantamount to reveal any connection between Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee and Biswa Bangla Marketing Corporation Limited and Jago Bangla Media Private Limited." Earlier. Roy on November 10 had alleged that Banerjee was the owner of both the companies. Banerjee said despite the Court's order Roy has continued to spread ' canards' against him at a meeting held on Monday." He said, " these are attempts to malign me by circulating fake news and lower me in the eyes of my party workers."

Soumya Bakshi, a witness in the case, told the Court that he was shocked when he heard about the allegations made by Roy. " I respect Abhishek Banerjee, and this is a deliberate attempt to malign him. We were shocked by the allegations levelled against him."

Banerjee said he had full faith in the judiciary. "I have full faith in the Court. No one trusts Mukul Roy. The truth will come out, and everybody will have to abide by the Court's order," he maintained adding " We know how to defeat those who circulate canards intentionally."