Who is Abhishek Banerjee? TMC leader whose wife and sister-in-law have been summoned by CBI

On Sunday, the CBI issued summons to the wife and sister-in-law of Abhishek Banerjee, who is a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. After the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) knocked on Abhishek’s doors on Sunday, the West Bengal CM said at an event, “Don’t try to intimidate us with jail. We have fought against guns and are not afraid of fighting against rats,” reports PTI. 

The CBI has summoned Abhishek’s wife and sister-in-law in relation to coal pilferage and illegal mining case in West Bengal. The two have been asked by the CBI to appear for the summon on Monday.

Abhishek, an MBA, is a TMC MP from the Diamond Harbour constituency and joined politics in 2011 when Mamata-led TMC came to power in West Bengal, ending the 34-year-rule in the state. 

The 33-year-old TMC MP, who is also the president of the youth Trinamool Congress and has a considerable influence on the party, is seen as the political heir of Mamata. Abhishek has been at the forefront of attacks on the BJP leaders in the run-up to the Assembly elections, which are due in April-May. 

Abhishek married Rujuira Banerjee, who has been summoned by the CBI, in 2012 and has two children. 

The summon to the TMC MP’s wife and sister-in-law came a day ahead a court in Kolkata is due to hear in a criminal defamation case against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which was filed by Abhishek.