Hooghly, 04 November (H.S.): BJP MLA from Tarakeswar, Santu Pan, has found himself embroiled in a controversy following the circulation of an alleged WhatsApp call recording on social media. The audio purportedly features a conversation between the MLA and two workers of his own party, with allegations of abusive language and threatening remarks.

In the viral recording, a voice purportedly belonging to Santu Pan can be heard saying, “I was a goonda before becoming an MLA.” The conversation also allegedly contains objectionable remarks directed at the convenor of the BJP’s Arambagh organisational district. The speaker is further heard allegedly using abusive language, threatening a party worker and talking about having him beaten up.

According to BJP sources, a young BJP worker from Bhandarhati had lodged a police complaint against a party worker considered close to the Tarakeswar MLA. The incident reportedly angered Santu Pan, leading to the alleged heated exchange with the worker.

Responding to the controversy on Wednesday, Santu Pan said that some Trinamool Congress (TMC) members were trying to implicate BJP workers in false cases. He maintained that protecting party workers was their responsibility.

“The person I spoke to belongs to the TMC and is now trying to join the BJP. He is framing BJP workers in false cases,” the MLA claimed. Describing the WhatsApp call as an internal conversation, he questioned how the recording had been made public and said that circulating it reflected the other person's attitude.

Meanwhile, the young man allegedly involved in the conversation claimed that he was a BJP worker. He said that there should not have been any dispute between them and that, even if a disagreement had occurred, it was an internal party matter. He also stated that he did not know who had circulated the audio or why. He denied sending the recording to anyone for circulation or giving permission for it to be made public.

The alleged audio recording has triggered a political controversy in the area. However, the authenticity of the viral recording has not been independently verified.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey