Allegations Against Firhad Hakim’s OSD for Collecting Money Using Abhishek’s Name
A serious allegation has emerged against Firhad Hakim’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Kalicharan Banerjee, for collecting money by falsely claiming to be a close associate of Trinamool Congress’s All-India General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. According to the complaint, Kalicharan used his supposed proximity to Abhishek to extort money from the market. The complaint has already been filed at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, and notably, the person who lodged the complaint is an official from Abhishek Banerjee’s own office.
Firhad Hakim’s Response
Reacting to the allegations, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim claimed that he was unaware of any such complaints prior to this. He stated, “I have never heard of such complaints before. If there was any issue, it should have been brought to me, and I would have conducted an investigation. I have no knowledge of this matter. If a baseless allegation is made against someone, how can I take action?”
Political Uproar
This incident has caused significant political stir, especially within the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Political analysts suggest that while both Abhishek Banerjee and Firhad Hakim belong to the same party, their paths often diverge. Despite sharing the same ideological stance, there have been past instances where differences of opinion between the two leaders have surfaced. Interestingly, it was an official from Abhishek’s office—who oversees important documents like those related to the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme—who filed the complaint against Kalicharan Banerjee. This has led many political experts to speculate whether there is some subtle internal politics at play.
Previous Allegations Against Kalicharan
According to sources from Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, this is not the first time Kalicharan Banerjee has faced complaints. There had been multiple previous allegations filed against him, and Abhishek Banerjee was informed about the matter. It is reported that the complaint was officially lodged only after receiving a green signal from Abhishek’s office.
Opposition’s Attack
The opposition has been quick to seize on the controversy. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, launched a direct attack, stating, “Kalicharan collects money. He has been given the responsibility of overseeing the new ₹200 crore TMC office being constructed in Topsia. Kalicharan collects money for payments to this project. He owns seven flats, more than Partha Chatterjee. He has flats in Garia and New Town as well.”
This controversy has opened up a new chapter in the ongoing political tussle within TMC, highlighting potential rifts within the party. With allegations of corruption and internal politics surfacing, the matter has created considerable political tension. The opposition has also intensified its criticism, further complicating the situation for the ruling party.
