Bengal MP’s ID card, Games passes stolen
In a major embarrassment to the Delhi police, West Bengal MP Bratin Sengupta lost his Commonwealth Games passes to thieves on Wednesday.
In a major embarrassment to the Delhi police, West Bengal MP Bratin Sengupta lost his Commonwealth Games passes to thieves on Wednesday.
“Sengupta, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP from Barasat in West Bengal, had reached Delhi on Wednesday morning. Thieves stole his Parliament identity card besides two passes to the closing ceremony worth Rs 40,000, and Rs 60,000 in cash on Monday,” said a senior Delhi Police officer requesting anonymity.
Sources said Sengupta had reached the Capital on Monday morning and was putting up at Banga Bhavan on Hailey Road.
“After checking-in, he left Banga Bhavan with some of his colleagues around 1:15 pm to withdraw money and procure the passes,” the officer said.
During the next two hours, Sengupta visited the Parliament, the State Bank of India’s Parliament Street branch and finally the Organising Committee’s office at Janpath to procure entry passes for Thursday’s closing ceremony.
“On his return to Banga Bhavan, he realised that he had not only lost the passes and cash, but his ID card as well. He panicked and visited each of the three locations to look for his belongings, but in vain,” said the officer.
Sengupta finally approached the Parliament Street police station at 4.30 pm to lodge a complaint. “We were surprised to hear what he told us. The complainant had visited three locations that can only be described as fortresses when it comes to security cover. We accompanied him to each location, but were denied entry. It was very difficult to imagine that the gang has been operating right under the nose of hundreds of security personnel without any fear,” he said.
Meanwhile, a case of theft has been registered at the Parliament Street police station. “We are investigating the matter. Our main concern is the ID card which can be used to gain access to Parliament.”