The Trinamool Congress today described Shibaji Panja as just a businessman and not a member of the party and alleged the timing of his arrest smacked of a vendetta to undermine Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's successful visit to Bangladesh.
"He is not a member of Trinamool Congress. He is a businessman who was part of the delegation to Bangladesh," TMC national spokesperson and Chief Whip of the party in Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien told PTI.
Businessman-cum-film producer Panja was detained at the immigration counter of the Kolkata airport on a 'look out' notice by the Delhi Police after the CM's delegation landed here last night, before being arrested.
"Law will take its own course. However, the timing of his arrest smacks of vendetta. A ploy to undermine the hugely successful visit of the CM to Bangladesh," O'Brien said in his reaction.
Panja was produced before the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Barrackpore, today, which ordered his release on a personal bond of Rs 50,000.
