Kolkata, 17 September (H.S.): Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh on Thursday questioned why Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar was still out of jail, alleging that she had been seen accepting a bribe on camera. Ghosh said he would write to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking scrutiny of her alleged role in the Narada sting operation.

Ghosh made the remarks after appearing at Barasat police station in connection with a case filed on the basis of a complaint by Ghosh Dastidar. He had been directed by the police to appear within seven days and reached the police station on Thursday, a day after receiving the notice.

Speaking to reporters after leaving the police station, Ghosh rejected allegations that he was involved in the alleged harassment of Ghosh Dastidar and her family on social media.

“My allegations are completely baseless,” Ghosh said, adding that he could not be held responsible for comments made by others on social media. He also questioned the use of police resources in connection with the allegations.

Ghosh said the investigating officer showed him a photograph of one of his social media posts and questioned him about it. He claimed that the post did not name or identify anyone and questioned how it could form the basis of a defamation complaint.

The MLA said he had taken dictionaries and a copy of the Constitution of India to the police station and maintained that he had not used any unparliamentary language in his posts. He said he sometimes used cryptic references on social media in connection with plots for his writing.

Ghosh Dastidar had earlier approached Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging that she and her family were being insulted and harassed on social media. An FIR was subsequently registered at Barasat police station on the basis of the complaint. The complaint was reportedly directed against individuals alleged to be involved in a social media campaign against her.

Ghosh also alleged that the complaint against him was politically motivated and made further allegations regarding the alleged use of government infrastructure at SSKM Hospital for commercial purposes. He said he would visit the hospital to examine whether any such arrangements existed and called for an investigation into the matter.

The allegations made by Ghosh could not be independently verified.

Referring to the Narada case, Ghosh said he would approach the CBI over Ghosh Dastidar's alleged role in the sting operation. The matter remains subject to investigation and legal proceedings.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey