New Delhi/Kolkata: A major political storm is brewing in West Bengal after President Droupadi Murmu’s office formally forwarded a high-profile corruption complaint against BJP West Bengal General Secretary Jagannath Chattopadhyay to the state’s Chief Secretary, directing scrutiny and necessary action.
The complaint, originally lodged by social activist Uday Singh, is bolstered by a whistleblower report from BJP insider Ajay Mukherjee. It levels serious charges of financial misconduct, benami transactions, and political espionage against the senior BJP leader. A letter dated July 2, 2025, from Gautam Kumar, Under Secretary in the President’s Secretariat, confirms the matter has been referred for appropriate examination by the West Bengal government.
Shocking Allegations: Benami Wealth, Fake Booths, and Data Leaks
At the center of the storm is a set of wide-ranging accusations. Chattopadhyay is alleged to have amassed significant wealth through benami transactions—properties registered in the names of unemployed or elderly family members, while allegedly being under his direct control. The complaint claims these assets include multiple apartments and land parcels across Kolkata and its suburbs, with no declared income sources for the named owners.
The whistleblower dossier also points to large-scale misappropriation of party funds during the BJP’s Booth Strengthening Mission for the 2024 general elections. Chattopadhyay, who headed the campaign, is accused of creating hundreds of fictitious booth-level committees in Bengal’s 42 parliamentary constituencies. Each committee reportedly received ₹20,000 in party funds—amounting to a total estimated loss of ₹3.5–₹4 crore. No physical existence of many of these committees has been proven, the report says.
Perhaps most damaging is the allegation that Chattopadhyay leaked sensitive internal BJP data—such as voter lists, booth maps, and call center logs—to rival political parties, most notably the ruling Trinamool Congress. He had access to the party’s Bengal-level digital infrastructure and voter outreach database, and allegedly passed on critical information during election cycles.
Political Crossovers and Espionage Suspicions
Adding fuel to the controversy are Chattopadhyay’s alleged connections with Trinamool Congress leaders. The complaint references multiple meetings and public appearances with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her associates, including joint helicopter rides and mutual exchange of political gifts. The document also names him as a facilitator in the controversial defection of Congress veteran Manas Bhunia to TMC, while Bhunia was facing legal scrutiny.
“This is not a personal vendetta,” activist Uday Singh told reporters. “It’s about rooting out political corruption and safeguarding the democratic fabric of the nation.”
Ajay Mukherjee, the BJP whistleblower whose April 17, 2025 report forms the backbone of the complaint, has submitted a trove of evidence, including land registry records, bank transactions, and mobile call logs purportedly linking Chattopadhyay to the allegations.
Legal Frameworks and Action Demanded
The complaint cites multiple statutes under which Chattopadhyay’s actions may be prosecutable. These include:
- Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 (as amended in 2016)
- Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002
- Indian Penal Code Sections 409, 420, and 120B for criminal breach of trust, cheating, and conspiracy
- Whistleblower Protection Act, 2014 for safeguarding Mukherjee
Uday Singh has called for a comprehensive probe involving central agencies such as the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, and the Income Tax Department. The complaint further seeks:
- Immediate attachment of suspected benami assets
- Registration of FIR and seizure of related financial and digital records
- Protection for whistleblower Mukherjee
- Disciplinary proceedings by BJP’s national leadership
The complaint leans on a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that clarified ownership and funding as the decisive factor in determining benami status—regardless of familial relationships.
What Lies Ahead
Following the President’s referral, the West Bengal Chief Secretary is expected to initiate a departmental inquiry. Legal experts say the ED or CBI may also begin independent investigations if prima facie evidence is established under federal law.
Meanwhile, the BJP central leadership has yet to respond publicly to the controversy. Chattopadhyay himself remains silent, and there has been no statement from the West Bengal unit of the party either.
Political observers believe the development could pose a major test of the BJP’s internal integrity as it attempts to expand its influence in West Bengal.
“This complaint is more than a corruption case—it is a test of political conscience,” Singh emphasized. “The question is: Will truth be buried for convenience, or will accountability prevail?”
The coming weeks are likely to see intensified political maneuvering and scrutiny, as all eyes turn to the state’s response and whether central agencies take up the case.
