Kolkata: A third charge sheet has been filed against former Trinamool councillor Debraj Chakraborty in Barasat court, accusing him of amassing crores through extortion and allegedly routing the money through “influential” bank accounts.
The charge sheet, running into over 1,500 pages and including CD details, was filed 65 days after Debraj’s arrest. Bidhannagar Police had formed a six-member SIT on July 5 to probe allegations of disproportionate assets worth over Rs 100 crore. Debraj was arrested by a joint team of Bidhannagar Police and STF from Purulia on July 1.
“The amount of money obtained through illegal means is no less than 100 crore,” said special public prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee. Debraj allegedly extorted money from the Baguiati-Kestopur area, which was deposited into a “suspicious” account where he was a signatory, according to the charge sheet filed by Baguiati Police. Investigators told the court that further probe would continue as more than Rs 10 crore in alleged extortion money had entered through an “influential” bank account. A supplementary charge sheet will be filed against other accused after completion of the probe, police said.
Debraj’s wife, singer Aditi Munshi, has also been named in the FIR. Police have accused the couple of involvement in a syndicate network, land grabbing, extortion and fraud. Police claimed the funds were subsequently transferred from the account to private entity Leaps and Bounds. Aditi was later granted legal protection by Calcutta High Court considering their young child, while Debraj’s plea was rejected.