Money is flying in the wind - Kolkata could rename itself as the City of Crorepatis

The Enforcement Directorate ED unearthed another crorepati in Kolkata – nicknamed the City of Joy. This time the crorepati happens to be a man from the Garden Reach area. Over the past month, the ED has arrested a few persons with political links and recovered crores of rupees. They are Partha Chatterjee who was a minister in the Trinamool Congress TMC government, and a woman Arpita Banerjee who was a friend of Partha. Later the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI arrested two more – they are Anubroto Mondal and Raju Sahani, both are leaders of the TMC. CBI is also a central government agency. Right now, the ED is conducting raids at multiple locations in Kolkata. It is probing an alleged case of fraud through a mobile gaming app and have zeroed in on the house of a businessman in the Garden Reach area of Kolkata. The ED has already seized Rs 17.32 crore and the figure could increase because counting is still underway. The cash, in denomination of mostly Rs 500 and Rs 2000, was concealed in several trunks in the residence. Rs 17.32 crore seized by ED in massive cash haul from Kolkata businessman in gaming app scam.

The ED has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This was based on a complaint filed by a bank against the accused and others for defrauding the users of a mobile gaming app called E-Nuggets. It seems they managed to gain the confidence of the users of the App by rewarding them with commission and other means. Once they gained the initial confidence, the users invested bigger amounts. Subsequently, the accused scrapped the App quoting reasons like system upgradation, investigation by LEAs etc. and erased all the data pertaining to the investors.

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The other day I was listening to the famous video song of Usha Uthup on Kolkata. It showed different scenes of the City of Joy and I longed to go back to the old days of the 1960s. I had left the city in the 1960s (it was known then as Calcutta) and subsequently visited it on special occasions. The last time was in 2019 to attend a marriage. I noticed that the city I grew up in had changed. There were flyovers, and skyscrapers alongside new attractions to woo tourists. Once there used to be the zoo garden, botanical garden, museum, Victoria Memorial, Birla planetarium etcetera. Now there are additions like the Eco Park, Nicco Park, Science City, floating restaurant on the Hoogly River and innumerable hotels and restaurant.

Most of these have come up during the tenure of Mamata Banerjee as chief minister. She is not only the supremo of Trinamool Congress TMC but also gifted with artistic talents. How Mamata Banerjee unwinds herself with artistic pursuits. She can wield the brush as well as the pen and was instrumental in promoting the annual Durga Puja festival on a global scale. However, her efforts to bring industries to her state have not met with much success. On the whole, Kolkata has prospered over the last decade. It is evident in every walk of life. Bengalis love the ilish fish and, even though the price might go up to Rs 2000 per Kg, there are buyers. Uemployment is a major issue in Bengal but there is no dearth of buyers of ilish.

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Sure shot way to woo tourists – bait them with the Big Ben and Eiffel Tower (satire)

‘The die has been cast and very soon no one need to go to London to see the Big Ben or to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower,’ Didi announced. ‘They’ll get it all here in our city.’
‘Yes,’ Moo Cool added. ‘Many such masterpieces would soon decorate the City of Joy. They will add to its charms and bring in the tourists.’
‘All thanks must go to Didi,’ Patro Chatto said. ‘We can proudly say ‘I have seen the Big Ben from up close’ or ‘I have clicked a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower.’
‘This is a major step in our efforts to woo tourists,’ Didi gave a wry smile. ‘We must arrange some more promotional videos with our brand ambassador.’

‘Don’t worry, ‘Dee Wreck assured. ‘We have covered the tram. Our next target is the hand pulled rickshaw. Our model actually wanted to draw the rickshaw and not just sit in it as a passenger with the strains of the super hit song ‘mein rickshaw wallah…’ in the background.’
‘I know him,’ Didi smiled. ‘He loves to live his role. Ensure that he gets a suitable actress as company. He flowers in the company of women.’
‘What is the next landmark in your sight?’ Moo Col wanted to know.
‘I am debating on getting either the White House or the Berlin Wall,’ Didi said. ‘Both are equally good.’
‘What about the location?’ Dee Wreck was curious.
‘We have installed the Big Ben in Lake Town, right?’
‘Yes.’
‘And plan to have the Eiffel Tower in the Eco Park, right?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then the White House can come up in the Millennium Park on the banks of the Hoogly.’
‘But – we had planned to have the giant Ferris Wheel there? Like ‘The Eye’ in London?’ Dee Wreck reminded.
‘Plans can and do change,’ Didi said. ‘Moreover London is already symbolized by the Big Ben.’
‘Then what about the Berlin Wall?’ Moo Cool asked.
‘I have not yet decided,’ Didi admitted. ‘It will be a toss-up between the Berlin Wall and the Great Wall of China.’
‘And, you want it on the borders?’
‘No – installing it on the border will send out the wrong message. It might affect the supply of ilish and I will lose the support of the ilish lovers. I don’t want that.’
‘Then where will you position it?’
‘All around Nabanna,’ Didi said. ‘It will save my policemen the trouble of wearing helmets all the time. Helmets can become a nuisance because you keep sweating - have you not seen cricketers on the field remove the helmet to get rid of the accumulated water?’ (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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