Calcutta High Court on Monday turned down the prayer of the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, who had sought quashing of an FIR drawn up by Contai police accusing him and four others, including his brother Soumendu, of stealing tarpaulins from the civic body’s godown on May 29.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh also declined to issue an interim stay on an inquiry into the alleged theft. So now, if they want, investigators can take any punitive step, including issuing arrest orders, against the Adhikari brothers.
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On June 1, Ratnadwip Manna, a Contai civic board member, had complained with Contai police that on May 29, a few armed men barged inside the civic body godown, picked up tarpaulins kept for aid, dumped them in a vehicle and fled.
A Member of the Board of Administrators of Contai Municipality in East Midnapore, alleged that the act was the result of a criminal conspiracy led by TMC-turned-BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and his brother Soumendu Adhikari.
Ratnadeep Manna, a member of the civic body’s board of administrators, alleged the loot was committed with the help of central force personnel who were assigned for Suvendu’s security.