The Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee has said that the Supreme Court transferred the case related to his alleged involvement in the school jobs-for-cash scam to some other Bench of Calcutta High Court because Justice Abhijeet Gangopadhyay was biased against him
The submission was made by the TMC leader before Justice Amrita Sinha, who is hearing his application to recall the order passed on April 13 by Justice Gangopadhyay ordering the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe his role in the scam.
Through his counsel, Banerjee said on Friday that the ED did not make any prayer or pleading against the TMC leader.
Lawyer of Abhishek Banerjee argued that there was some connection between his client’s speech and the complaints made by accused Kuntal Ghosh. One needs to question as to on what basis were these findings arrived at? The Judge made some observations but based on what material? It was an ex-parte order.
The lawyer further added that the application filed by the ED that Justice Gangopadhyay heard was not for a probe against Banerjee, but rather dealt with complaints made by Ghosh against some investigating officers, he added.
The counsel said they have alleged bias against the judge and that is why the Supreme Court has transferred the probe from him.
Citing some orders of the Supreme Court, the counsel submitted that judges cannot hear cases beyond the roster.
The counsel said that the judge went on air to speak about Banerjee and wanted to issue a contempt notice to him, but couldn’t do so, as a division bench had already taken up the matter.
Meanwhile, the counsel representing both the CBI and the ED sought adjournment as they needed proper instructions.
The counsel for Banerjee however urged the Court to pass an interim order asking the central agencies not to take any coercive action against his client.
The counsel told the judge that after the order passed on April 13, the CBI had issued a notice to me. But the same has been kept in abeyance after the Supreme Court stayed the order on April 19.
Justice Sinha asked if the agency has taken any action or step after keeping the notice in abeyance.
N koi and
The matter will next be heard on May 15.
Meanwhile, the Court today rejected a review petition filed by the State against the order passed by the High Court, transferring the probe in the school jobs for cash scam, to the CBI and the ED.