Overview
- Adhikari announced on X that he will initiate legal proceedings after the 72-hour window for a response passed on Wednesday.
- The notice had demanded documentary proof within 72 hours or warned of both civil and criminal defamation cases.
- Mamata Banerjee had alleged that coal-smuggling funds were routed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah through Adhikari, calling Shah a beneficiary and Adhikari an intermediary.
- Her allegations came as the Enforcement Directorate carried out searches at I-PAC’s Salt Lake office and at co-founder Pratik Jain’s residence in Kolkata.
- Adhikari labeled the statements reckless and politically motivated, and no response from Banerjee or the Trinamool Congress was reported at the time of publication.