Arjun Singh grilled by CID for 4 hours in corruption case

BJP leader Arjun Singh was questioned by the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for nearly four hours at Bhabani Bhawan on Wednesday in connection with a 2020 fraud case. The questioning pertains to allegations of corruption related to the Bhatpara Naihati Cooperative Bank, where Singh served as chairman. During his tenure, significant allegations surfaced regarding misuse of funds, and the state agency is now delving deeper into these claims.

Before arriving for the interrogation, Arjun Singh made a public statement with serious accusations, claiming that if he were to suffer from a multi-organ failure in the next six months, it would be due to actions taken by the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Singh suggested that the TMC had allegedly acquired a “special type of chemical” from Russia with the intent to harm BJP leaders in Bengal, including himself. He expressed concern that this chemical could be used against him during his time at Bhabani Bhawan.

In response to Singh's remarks, senior TMC leader and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim dismissed the claims. “He has died mentally,” Hakim stated, implying that Singh’s allegations were baseless and part of a broader political strategy rather than grounded in reality.

According to sources within the CID, Singh’s summons stemmed from his leadership role at both the Bhatpara Municipality and the cooperative bank, with suspicions of financial misconduct amounting to several crores of rupees. This investigation seeks to uncover whether Singh, along with other associated officials, engaged in any misappropriation of funds or facilitated fraudulent activities during his tenure.

As the investigation continues, the CID is reportedly looking into transactions and records from Singh’s time at the cooperative bank, with initial findings suggesting financial discrepancies. The questioning session was lengthy and intensive, as officials pressed Singh for answers about specific transactions linked to alleged mismanagement.