Kolkata: Controversy erupted over allegations that BJP’s North Dum Dum Yuva Morcha president Debjit Dutta has threatened a businessman for allegedly refusing to pay Rs 30,000 sought for a party training camp. A video purportedly related to the incident has already gone viral on social media. TOI, however, couldn’t verify the authenticity of the video.
The businessman owns a property beside a wedding hall in Ward 9 of North Dum Dum Municipality, which has been rented out to a multinational company, according to the allegation. “Dutta, along with some of his associates, visited the premises on Aug 29 and sought Rs 30,000 for the party’s training camp.
I was warned that my business would be shut down if I failed to pay,” the businessman said. However, Dutta has denied the allegation, calling the claim of extortion “completely false, baseless and a planned conspiracy”. He alleged that the entire episode was a “planned conspiracy” involving a local CPM functionary, whom he described as a builder, along with some of his associates and a few Trinamool Congress workers. BJP North Suburban district president Chandicharan Roy said, “If an allegation of extortion is received, the party will take action.”