KOLKATA, JAN 5 : A video clip purportedly showing bundles of currency notes stacked on a table with a TMC leader seated behind it went viral on social media, sparking a political row in West Bengal, where elections would be due in a few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mohammad Giasuddin Mondal, vice-chairman of the Barasat I Panchayat Samiti in North 24 Parganas district, was seen seated alongside local businessman Rakibul Islam, with what appears to be a large amount of cash spread out on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the clip, a voice was heard asking over the phone whether a purchase would be made \u201cin cash or on finance\u201d, while another person later arrived carrying a nylon bag that was also filled with money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The video triggered allegations of illicit cash transactions. However, Mondal dismissed the charge, claiming that the clip dates back to 2022 and that he had no role in the transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was merely sitting there. It is an old video. Some friends were involved in a land deal. That is all I know,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rakibul Islam, seen in the video speaking on the phone, also denied any wrongdoing, saying the cash was related to a land transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is a two-year-old video. As far as I remember, money from a land deal was being counted. There was investment in land,\u201d he said, adding that Mondal was a partner in the land transaction and that the premises shown were not his office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barasat I block TMC convenor Mohammad Isha Sarkar said the party would act if any wrongdoing was established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf the authenticity of the video is proven and guilt is established, action will be taken. Questions also arise about the source of such a huge amount of cash,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The opposition BJP alleged that the video clip reflected the ruling party\u2019s \u201ctrue character\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BJP leader Tapas Mitra alleged that Mondal was a \u201cland mafia\u201d and demanded an immediate probe by central agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have seen cases like Anubrata Mondal and Partha Chatterjee. TMC is looting Bengal. We want the ED to investigate and the Centre to step in,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-PTI<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" KOLKATA, JAN 5 : A video clip purportedly showing bundles of currency notes stacked on a table with a TMC leader seated behind it went viral on social media, sparking<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":147327,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[348],"tags":[5647,23321,1244],"class_list":["post-147326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news","tag-kolkata","tag-tmc-leader","tag-west-bengal"],"yoast_head":"\n