Abhishek Banerjee's 'illegal' office demolished in South 24 Parganas
The TMC MP's five-storey company office, 'Leaps and Bounds' had come under the Enforcement Directorate scanner relating to the teacher’s recruitment scam
A five-storey office building connected to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in Amtala, South 24 Parganas, was demolished by authorities for lacking proper construction permits. The demolition occurred after local officials and the Land Reforms Officer issued orders, following alleged disregard for earlier notices regarding irregularities. The property belongs to 'Leaps and Bounds', a company in which Banerjee's father is a director, and which has previously been under investigation for alleged involvement in the teacher's recruitment scam and illegal property constructions. Abhishek Banerjee has previously stated that such allegations are part of a political vendetta.
A five-storey office building connected to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in Amtala, South 24 Parganas, was demolished by authorities for lacking proper construction permits. The demolition occurred after local officials and the Land Reforms Officer issued orders, following alleged disregard for earlier notices regarding irregularities. The property belongs to 'Leaps and Bounds', a company in which Banerjee's father is a director, and which has previously been under investigation for alleged involvement in the teacher's recruitment scam and illegal property constructions. Abhishek Banerjee has previously stated that such allegations are part of a political vendetta.
A five-storey office building connected to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in Amtala, South 24 Parganas, was demolished by authorities for lacking proper construction permits. The demolition occurred after local officials and the Land Reforms Officer issued orders, following alleged disregard for earlier notices regarding irregularities. The property belongs to 'Leaps and Bounds', a company in which Banerjee's father is a director, and which has previously been under investigation for alleged involvement in the teacher's recruitment scam and illegal property constructions. Abhishek Banerjee has previously stated that such allegations are part of a political vendetta.
JCBs and bulldozers rolled into the Amtala area of South 24 Parganas on Saturday to demolish a five-storey office building belonging to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, after the structure came under the scanner. Ahead of the demolition of the front portion of the property—which was a shed—teams from the police, the fire brigade, the Rapid Action Force (RAF), and central security forces were deployed outside the premises.
“There was no permission taken even at the panchayat level, hence there are directions to demolish this building,” said a local district official.
The demolition follows orders issued by the Deputy District Magistrate and the Land Reforms Officer (LRO) scheduling a hearing, as the building plan was unauthorised. Although official notices regarding construction irregularities had been previously pasted on the structure, the demolition was carried out after they were allegedly ignored. The office belongs to Leaps and Bounds, a company where Abhishek’s father, Amit Banerjee, serves as a director.
On Saturday, as the building featuring a picture of Abhishek Banerjee was being demolished, BJP workers raised 'Jai Shree Ram' slogans. Initially, no representative of Abhishek Banerjee was present at the scene. However, when Trinamool Congress (TMC) panchayat workers later arrived at the spot, they were quickly chased away.
The front portion of the building was first demolished before portions of the main building were targeted. Fire brigade officials also broke open the lock to the building premises.
'Leaps And Bounds' was founded in 2012, where Abhishek was the CEO and director. Later on, his parents, Amit Banerjee and Lata Banerjee, became the directors. The company primarily deals with real estate and investments. 'Leaps and Bounds' came under the Enforcement Directorate scanner for the multi-crore teacher’s recruitment scam, which was under investigation for allegations of dubious transactions.
The company also came under the scanner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation(KMC) for alleged illegal property constructions. Abhishek, in the past, has labelled allegations as a political vendetta.