TMC Accuses CBI of Political Vendetta Over Teacher Recruitment Scam Probe
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has strongly criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), accusing the agency of a deliberate attempt to malign Abhishek Banerjee, the party’s national general secretary and MP from Diamond Harbour. This comes after reports surfaced regarding CBI’s chargesheet in the West Bengal primary teacher recruitment scam, where an audio clip allegedly mentioning “Abhishek Banerjee” was cited.
CBI’s Chargesheet and the Controversial Mention of “Abhishek Banerjee”
According to an Anandabazar Online report, the 28-page chargesheet submitted by the CBI includes references to a recorded conversation involving key accused Sujay Krishna Bhadra (popularly known as “Kalighat-er Kaku”), former education minister Partha Chatterjee, and TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya. The agency claimed that an audio clip allegedly features a conversation where an individual named Abhishek Banerjee is mentioned. However, the chargesheet does not specify which Abhishek Banerjee it refers to—whether it is the TMC leader or another individual.
CBI’s Forensic Investigation of Audio Clip
The CBI has sent the audio clip to the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) for verification. Additionally, voice samples of Sujay Krishna Bhadra, along with other accused Kuntal Ghosh and Shantanu Banerjee, have been sent to Delhi for forensic examination. Some witnesses have reportedly confirmed the authenticity of the audio, but the investigation is still ongoing.
TMC’s Response: “A Political Conspiracy”
Reacting to the chargesheet, Abhishek Banerjee’s lawyer, Sanjay Basu, issued a statement, slamming the CBI for what he called a “politically motivated” move.
“The CBI is making baseless allegations to tarnish my client’s image. Despite cooperating with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI at every stage, Abhishek Banerjee is being unnecessarily dragged into this case.”
Basu further emphasized that the ED has not filed any chargesheet against Abhishek Banerjee and that there is no concrete evidence against him.
CBI’s Chargesheet: Selective Identification? The CBI’s failure to specify which Abhishek Banerjee is mentioned in the audio clip has led to widespread speculation. In the chargesheet:
Partha Chatterjee is identified as the former education minister.
Sujay Krishna Bhadra is labeled as the Chief Operating Officer of Lips & Bounds.
But for Abhishek Banerjee, no designation or identification is provided.
This has fueled TMC’s accusations that the CBI is trying to create ambiguity and cast unnecessary suspicion on their leader.
Abhishek Banerjee: “Won’t Be Intimidated”
In response to the controversy, Abhishek Banerjee has vowed to fight against what he calls “conspiracies” against him. His legal team has stated: “Even after the failure of ED’s investigation, the CBI is being used by political forces to target Abhishek Banerjee. The repeated misuse of central agencies for political gains is evident.”
The statement further asserts that Abhishek Banerjee will continue to fight for justice and transparency and that he is not afraid of baseless allegations.
Political Repercussions
This latest development has once again sparked debates about the role of central agencies in political investigations. With West Bengal’s political landscape heating up ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the TMC is portraying this as an attempt by the ruling BJP at the Centre to weaken its leadership.
As the forensic results of the audio clip are awaited, this controversy is expected to intensify further.
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