Former Kolkata Municipal Corporation deputy mayor and former Trinamool Congress MLA Atin Ghosh, his daughter Priyadarshini Ghosh, her husband, and several others have been booked by West Bengal Police over allegations of illegally occupying a three-storey bungalow and adjoining land worth around Rs 4 crore in eastern Kolkata.
Bidhannagar North Police Station registered the case following a complaint filed by businesswoman and hotelier Kamalini Paul. Police have also issued notices asking the accused to appear before investigators on June 26.
According to the complaint, the disputed property is located near the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in the Pragati Maidan area. Paul said the house was built by her late father, who had left it to her through a will.
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"My father had built the house at Metropolitan and bequeathed it to me through a will before his death. Atin Ghosh's daughter liked the property after seeing it. We were later pressured into giving it up," the complaint read.
Complainant alleges intimidation and forced paperwork
Paul claimed that Atin Ghosh, his daughter and several supporters came to her residence and pressured her into signing documents related to the property.
"They came to my house, intimidated me and made me sign documents in their presence. I never had possession of those documents afterwards," it further said.
She also alleged that Rs 50 lakh was transferred to her bank account as an advance despite her refusal to sell the property.
"They told me that they wanted the property and would take it even if I refused. I was told that I had no idea of their influence and power. Rs 50 lakh was deposited into my account. I later returned the money with interest, but instead of accepting it, they allegedly got my account blocked by showing it as a fraudulent transaction," Paul claimed.
Ghosh family rejects allegations
Atin Ghosh denied any wrongdoing and said he would cooperate with the investigation.
"I do not know the person who has filed the complaint. My daughter had purchased a property from them. In my 50 years of political life, nobody has been able to level any corruption charge against me. If the police call for an investigation, I am prepared to cooperate with them," he said.
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Priyadarshini Ghosh maintained that the dispute stemmed from a property transaction and accused the complainant of cheating her family.
"The allegations are completely false. It is they who cheated us. We have all the necessary documents to prove our position," she said, adding that the family would file a defamation suit over what they described as false and malicious allegations.
Police said they are examining property documents, banking records and other materials submitted by both sides. Statements of all concerned will also be recorded as part of the ongoing investigation.
