TMC MP Kirti Azad appeared before Bengal CID in extortion case!

Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad appeared at the CID headquarters in Kolkata on Tuesday. He was to be interrogated in an extortion case registered against him. The TMC MP reached the CID headquarters in Bhabani Bhawan in south Kolkata with interim protection from punitive action, including arrest, granted by the Calcutta High Court on September 15.

Justice Kaushik Chanda provided relief to the MP by directing him to cooperate fully in the ongoing investigation. Azad has been granted protection from arrest for six months.

The court had also directed the CID to give at least seven days' notice before calling Azad for questioning. Following the court's direction, the CID informed the bench that Azad would have to appear before the investigators on September 22.

The case has come to light following allegations by a businessman who claimed that he was called to Azad's bungalow in Durgapur on May 21 last year, where an aide of the MP allegedly demanded Rs 15 lakh. The complainant alleged that he was threatened with closure of his LPG business if he failed to pay the amount and claimed to have an audio recording of the incident.

On the basis of the complaint, an FIR was registered against Azad and several associates. The Trinamool Congress MP has denied the allegations and called it part of a conspiracy to malign his image.

He has stated that he was not in Durgapur on the day of the alleged incident and presented the flight journey records before the court in support of his claim. Azad has also moved the Calcutta High Court demanding quashing of the FIR.