Babul video stirs hornet’s nest in West Bengal

 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which used the Saradha scam to target the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, was left with egg on its face, as a 10-minute video, featuring Union minister Babul Supriyo at the inauguration of a hotel owned by chit fund company Rose Valley has left the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths in a bind.

The video shows Supriyo seated next to Rose Valley chief Gautam Kundu at the inauguration of the ninth hotel of the Rose Valley Group, where the minister was the chief guest. 

In recent times, the CBI has gone hammer and tongs against TMC leaders. Surprisingly, no top notch BJP or CPM leader was under the scanner so far. “Babul’s proximity to the Rose Valley chief lends credence to TMC claims that the CBI was being used as a political tool to tarnish the party’s reputation,” TMC leader told Millennium Post. What surprises the CBI more is that while the video was of a hotel inauguration in 2009, but Supriyo was in regular touch with Kundu even after becoming an MP from Asansol. At present, Kundu is in ED custody for alleged involvement in the Rs 15,000-crore Rose Valley chit fund scam. Supriyo confirmed to media that the video was genuine. He said, “I know Gautam Kundu for long and have attended many of his events. I also knew he was the owner of Rose Valley, but am in no way connected with any of his businesses. He was also a producer of my films. After my win in the Lok Sabha polls, he came to meet me at Park Prime hotel. Now, a CBI probe is on against Rose Valley and if asked I will help the investigation process.”

Supriyo joined the BJP only a few days ahead of the 2014 general elections. His fighting victory despite TMC’s aggressive campaign did not go unnoticed and though the party managed just two seats in West Bengal, PM Modi soon included Supriyo in his cabinet. At BJP chief Amit Shah’s rally in Kolkata earlier this year, the singer-turned-politician was seen criticising TMC and CM Mamata Banerjee over the Saradha scam.

It may be recalled that while arresting TMC’s Madan Mitra, the CBI used a video footage to strengthen their claim which showed the transport minister sharing the stage with Saradha group chairman Sudipta Sen. “While the CBI was selectively leaking information on TMC to the media, it was shielding leaders from the BJP and the Left. We stand vindicated,” a TMC leader said.

The 2009, 10-minute video shows Supriyo, clad in a pink full-sleeve shirt, sitting next to Kundu and a host of other Rose Valley officials.

“When the CBI and the ED are investigating the Rose Valley scam and have already examined TMC MP Tapas Paul, they should examine Supriyo also. But examining a central minister requires the headquarters’ permission,” said a senior CBI official. This video is being aired on regional channels in West Bengal and has stoked a furious political debate in Bengal. Rose Valley group runs a tour and travel company whose records were sought by ED officials. They were expecting some big names of TMC to crop up, but the records also showed that Babul Supriyo enjoyed their hospitality at least seven times recently. One embarrassed assistant director of ED tried to hide those facts and scolded a Rose Valley accountant for bringing those papers.