Calcutta HC shields Aditi Munshi & husband from arrest, seeks report on alleged assets

The Calcutta High Court on Friday granted temporary relief to former MLA Aditi Munshi and her husband Debraj Chakraborty by orally directing that no arrest or coercive action be taken against them until June 19. The couple had approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail amid allegations related to disproportionate assets and concealment of property details. The matter will next be heard on June 19, and the court has sought a status report on the investigation into their properties.

The hearing took place before Justice Joy Sengupta after the state government verbally assured the court that no immediate arrest would be made. During the proceedings, the court directed authorities to submit documents related to the alleged assets and transfers linked to the couple. The case also triggered political discussion after CPM leader and senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya appeared on behalf of the Trinamool Congress leaders despite repeated allegations of corruption made by Left leaders against the ruling party.

According to the state government, Aditi Munshi and Debraj Chakraborty allegedly transferred nearly Rs 100 crore worth of properties in the names of relatives, acquaintances and benami entities ahead of the Assembly elections. The government alleged that the transfers were carried out to conceal the actual extent of their assets in election affidavits. Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar, appearing for the state, argued that many of the property transfers were executed within a single day, raising suspicion regarding the source of funds and legality of the transactions.

The state further claimed that over a period of five years, Aditi Munshi earned around Rs 40 lakh while Debraj Chakraborty earned approximately Rs 66.97 lakh. Despite this, the government alleged that the couple accumulated assets worth nearly Rs 100 crore and purchased three cars valued at a combined Rs 71 lakh. The state also informed the court that two individuals considered close associates of Debraj had already been arrested and pointed out that Debraj is also an accused in a 2021 post-poll violence case.

Appearing for the couple, Bikash Bhattacharya argued that transferring property in another person’s name is not illegal under Indian law. He submitted that even if incorrect information had been provided in election affidavits, it could amount only to an electoral violation and not a criminal offence. During the hearing, Justice Joy Sengupta remarked, “Do you remember Sheikh Shahjahan? Perhaps no one complained out of fear because they were MLAs.” The court observed that no direct complaint of harassment or coercion linked to the properties had yet emerged and therefore, at this stage, the matter could not be termed organised crime.