'Nussrat Jahan will speak for her case... not my matter': Mamata Banerjee on corruption allegation against TMC MP
Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday refrained from making any comment on the allegation of corruption brought against actress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP from West Bengal's Basirhat, Nussrat Jahan.
However, Mamata has slammed the media for doing a "media trial" in a much similar statement to that of the one made by Nussrat herself.
Speaking during her press briefing at her office 'Nabanna', Mamata said, "I won't discuss it because I don't know the details. Anyone can lodge a complaint against someone but how come media trials start on the basis of that? Media is passing the judgement even before a person is found guilty. If the complaints are authentic, law will take its own course.
"Why are the opposition leaders, who are accused in chit fund cases, not summoned? Why a two-way approach for the incumbent and the opposition? Nussrat will speak for her case. Her lawyer can say. Let the good law prevail. It's not my matter. There are plenty of directors like Nussrat at various levels."
"I won't speak for individual cases. They have every right to protect themselves," the TMC supremo added.
What are the allegations?
The complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shankudeb Panda with the Enforcement Directorate claimed a financial entity, where Nussrat reportedly served as the director for a few years, received around Rs 6,00,000 from each of the duped investors and promised them residential flats at reasonable rates within the span of four years.
It has been alleged that Nussrat also took a loan from the company and bought her house.
Nussrat responds
Addressing the media at Kolkata's Press Club, Nussrat claimed she had paid back the loan with full interest to the company.
"The company, which I had quit in 2017, had given me a loan but I have returned it back with interest. I have all my bank statements will me," said Nussrat.
"I have the details of my bank transactions. If someone needs to check, they can approach the court for a copy," said the TMC MP flashing the documents. "I am three hundred percent away from corruption," she added.
Nussrat also lashed out at the media for doing a "media trial" ever since the news broke.
"Congratulations to the media for an amazing TRP flashing my face on prime time shows... But please don't make drawing room stories based on false allegations," said the actress-turned MP.
Nussrat, who is one of the leading contemporary Bengali film actresses, joined politics in 2019 contesting from Basirhat on TMC's ticket. She had won by a huge margin of votes from the Muslim-dominated constituency.