West Bengal announces fresh inquiry into Mamata injury claims

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a fresh inquiry into Mamata Banerjee’s leg injury during the 2021 Assembly election campaign, alleging that the former chief minister made false claims about the incident. Addressing a press conference at the State Secretariat on Saturday, Adhikari displayed what he described as a medical report from the State-run Bangur Institute of Neurosciences. He said the report, dated March 11, 2021, showed no evidence of a fracture.

Adhikari said the State CID was already investigating the matter and that the government would initiate a fresh probe after the Assembly by-elections. He said the investigation would begin once the model code of conduct was lifted after the results were announced on October 9. By-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for October 6, with results due on October 9.

Adhikari said the timing of the proposed inquiry was linked to the electoral restrictions and denied that he would disclose further details of the CID investigation at present. He alleged that Banerjee had faked the injury during campaigning in Nandigram and that the episode had misled people in West Bengal. He also described the matter as an insult to the people of Nandigram and said there had been a media trial.

Banerjee was injured in the Reyapara area of Birulia on March 10, 2021, during her election campaign. She initially said unknown people had pushed her against the open door of her car. She later said a crowd had pressed into the vehicle while she greeted supporters, crushing her leg.

The source material says she was diagnosed with severe bone and ligament injuries to her left ankle and foot, as well as bruising and pain affecting her right shoulder, forearm, neck and waist. She was admitted to SSKM Hospital and discharged on March 12 with her left foot in a cast. She subsequently campaigned in a wheelchair.

The Trinamool Congress won 216 of West Bengal’s 294 Assembly seats in the 2021 election, while the BJP won 77. The source material does not include Banerjee’s or the Trinamool Congress’s response to Adhikari’s latest allegations.