The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday removed Juhi Chowdhury from the post of general secretary of the West Bengal women’s wing, after she was arrested in connection with a child trafficking case, PTI reported. Key accused Chandana Chakraborty, who had been arrested earlier, had alleged that she had been introduced to other BJP leaders Roopa Ganguly and Kailash Vijayvargiya, through Chowdhury.
“We have removed her from all party posts, as allegations have been raised against her. But she will remain a party worker,” state party chief Dilip Ghosh said. Chowdhury’s father Rabindranarayan was also removed from the state unit, reported Economic Times. Ghosh however said the party will provide legal help to Chowdhury. “We have a legal cell that will try to obtain bail for her,” he said according to Hindustan Times.
Ghosh however alleged that the Crime Investigation Department was working as “a party wing” of the ruling Trinamool Congress. “It seems a conspiracy has been hatched by the TMC government to malign our party leaders,” he said.
Chowdhury was sent to CID remand for 12 days by the Jalpaiguri District Court. The case pertains to an NGO called Bimala Shishu Griha that allegedly sold at least two dozen children on the pretext of adoption.
Four people have been arrested in the case so far. Chakraborty, the NGO’s chief adoption officer Sonali Mondal, its chairperson, and Chakraborty’s brother Manas Bhowmik. The CID said Rs three lakh to five lakh was charged for each child sold abroad, and between Rs one lakh to three lakh for those trafficked within India.
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