Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday dismissed connections with Arpita Mukherjee, a close aide of state cabinet minister Partha Chatterjee. Mukherjee is currently under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody after Rs 20 Crore was found at her residence in cash.

“Neither the government nor the party has any ties with that woman (Arpita Mukherjee)… I had visited a Durga Puja pandal to inaugurate it. Apparently, a woman was present there. I heard she is Partha’s (Chatterjee) friend. Am I God to know who is friends with whom?,” said Mamata Banerjee .

Neither the govt nor the party has any ties with that woman (Arpita Mukherjee)…I had visited a Durga Puja pandal to inaugurate it. Apparently, a woman was present there. I heard she is Partha's (Chatterjee) friend. Am I God to know who is friends with whom?: Mamata Banerjee

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2022

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The Chief Minister asserted that the verdict should be given based on the truth, within a given time frame.

“If someone is found guilty, I do not mind if they are punished with life imprisonment,” she added.

Said the CM Banerjee: “If someone has been involved in wrong activities, none of us will interfere no matter how harsh a verdict they face. We will not support them.”

CM Banerjee added, “I will not bow down to threats. If someone has committed wrongdoings and is proven guilty by verdict of law, they will be responsible for the same.”

Earlier in the day, Arpita Mukherjee was produced before Special Court in Kolkata due to her closed connections with Partha Chatterjee. Chatterjee is involved in the alleged teacher’s recruitment scam.

The probe agency also confiscated 20 mobile phones along with many incriminating documents from Mukherjee’s properties.