Arrest Warrant Against Close Aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee For Fraud

An arrest warrant has been issued against close associate of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee,  businessman  Shibaji Panja. He had traveled with Ms Banerjee to Dhaka last month and was arrested when he returned with her on 21st February at the airport immigration itself.

The very next day, Mr Panja got conditional bail in the case relating to an economic fraud of Rs 18 crore, filed at a police station in Delhi.

A red corner notice had been issued against him on 19 February when the chief minister went to Dhaka. Panja went to Dhaka a day head, on the 18th. He was supposed to surrender to the Delhi police by 10th March. When he didn't and applied for bail once again today, bail was refused and arrest warrant issued.

Ms Banerjee had refused to take any responsibility for Mr Panja's actions. "He is a businessman. They have many cases against them. I have nothing to do with that," she had said on 22nd February, adding, "Mr Panja was not part of the official government delegation to Dhaka."

However, a Trinamool press release the next day had contradicted that, stating that Panja was a part of the official team to Dhaka adding that his financial affairs were his own business. Mr Panja is not a member of the Trinamool party, the release said.

Indeed, Mr Panja may not have been a party member but he was known to be a member of Ms Banerjee's "kitchen cabinet" and often seen at her office. He was also in charge of Ms Banerjee's pet projects like the Kolkata International Film Festival. Locally, he was nicknamed the king of Tollywood, the Bengali film and TV serial industry.

Mr Panja, a resident of south Kolkata, could not be contacted for comments. His lawyers said that he could not appear in court today because he had an eye ailment so his bail was rejected. However, a police team was seen at the court premises and his arrest appears imminent.