"No raids or enforcement action was undertaken by IT Department at Abhishek Banerjee's helicopter," Sources

New Delhi [India], April 14 : After the Trinamool Congress alleged that officials of the Income Tax department raided the helicopter of the party's general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, at Behala Flying Club, the sources denied any search taking place at the TMC leader's helicopter adding that the "media reports in this regard are completely misleading."
"No search/raid or survey or any enforcement action was undertaken by the Income Tax Department in respect of any helicopter/aircraft of TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee. Media reports in this regard are completely misleading," the sources said.
The sources further said that Behala Flying Club does not have any frisking/security apparatus or scanner working and this was brought to the notice of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of WB on 4th April 2024 by the State Nodal Officer of the Income Tax Department.
During one such routine verification on the basis of ATC information at Behala Flying Club/Airstrip in Kolkata on the 14th of April, 2024, the Quick Response Team (QRT) went to collect certain relevant information from the Aerodrome personnel, sources
Income Tax officials raided Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's helicopter at Behala Flying Club in Kolkata, the party claimed on Sunday.
The sources further added that once the mode code of conduct comes into force Income Tax Department sets up a control room and reports to the Election Commission of India.
During the MCC period IT officials, all over the country, are deputed in various districts and airports/railway stations, etc, to monitor the movement of unaccounted cash and other assets, it added.
"ECI has also directed that different Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) must establish communication and share pertinent information for improved coordination," it added.
Earlier today, Trinamool Congress on Sunday alleged that officials of the Income Tax department raided the helicopter of the party's general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, at Behala Flying Club.
"Five days before elections, hordes of cash are recovered from the cars of BJP leaders in Jalpaiguri. What do Income Tax officials do? Raid Abhishek Banerjee's chopper, while ECI remains a mute spectator. The irony is that all this comes on a day when PM Narendra Modi claims to fight corruption," Trinamool Congress posted on X.
TMC leader Banerjee also targeted the Election Commission over the alleged incident and said that the poll body with the BJP decided to deploy 'minions' of the Income Tax department.
"Instead of removing the NIA DG and SP, ECI, and BJP chose to deploy MINIONS FROM IT to search and raid my chopper and security personnel today, resulting in NO FINDINGS. The ZAMINDARS can exert all their might but Bengal's SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE will never waver," he said.
Earlier, Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that a Bharatiya Janata Party member conducted a meeting with NIA officials and a BJP worker went to an "NIA officer's house and handed over a packet to him hinting at an understanding between the BJP and NIA".
Polling for the Lok Sabha in Bengal will take place across all 7 phases, starting April 19. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 34 seats in the state, while the BJP had to settle for 2 seats. The CPI (M) won 2 seats, while the Congress bagged 4.
However, the BJP came up with a much-improved showing in the 2019 polls, winning 18 seats against the TMC's 22. The Congress's tally dropped to just 2 seats, while the Left scored a blank.