Kolkata : Senior CPI-M leader Gautam Deb Tuesday claimed that close relatives of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have purchased property worth around Rs.20 crore in recent years and asked about the source of the funds.
The Trinamool Congress hit back regretting the way the former minister has dragged the family of a political personality on the issue and accused Deb of having close links with Saradha scam mastermind Sudipta Sen.
Addressing a media meet, Deb launched a no-holds-barred attack on Banerjee, calling her a “pathological liar” who had “problems in her DNA”.
Showing some papers, which he claimed were land deeds and Income Tax returns involving Banerjee’s relatives, he said: “How did they get the money? This is only the tip of the iceberg.”
Deb also gave what he called details of the sales proceeds of Banerjee’s paintings and claimed contradictory figures were given by the party in its filings before various authorities.
Responding to the charges, state Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim said under the Indian constitution, everybody has the right to acquire property.
“After lot of struggle, Mamata Banerjee’s brothers have set up businesses. The Indian constitution has given the fundamental right to acquire property to all citizens. They pay taxes and follow all rules,” Hakim.
The minister quoted from a statement by a close associate of Deb to claim that the latter used to accept “white envelopes” from Sen.