Renounced Indian citizenship in Dec, Vinay tells HC

Kolkata:

Trinamool Youth Congress

leader

Vinay Mishra

, an accused in the illegal

coal

mining and cross-border

cattle

trade cases, had left India before the CBI started its probe into these. In an affidavit filed with Calcutta High Court on Monday, Vinay claimed he had renounced Indian citizenship last December.

The affidavit, filed by his lawyer Ayan Bhattacharya, stated that “soon after leaving India”, he renounced his citizenship on December 19, 2020. Records with immigration officials at Kolkata airport say Vinay left the country on December 16 last year. He, however, said he was ready to join the investigation virtually.

Vinay first moved to Dubai and submitted an application for renouncing his Indian citizenship with the Indian Consulate General’s office in United Arab Emirates. He further claimed that the application was accepted by the Indian government on December 22, 2020. Mishra’s lawyer submitted necessary copies for the same with the court.

“The court was adjourned and the next hearing is scheduled on June 9,” said Ayan Poddar, another advocate appearing for Vinay.

Vinay, who claimed that he did not receive any intimation from CBI before leaving the country, said there was “neither any legal embargo” nor any “moral constraint” on him. His brother Vikas was arrested by Enforcement Directorate on March 16 and his properties attached the next day. He claimed that the entire episode came to his knowledge through media reports.

While Vinay did not share any detail regarding his domicile country, CBI officers have reasons to believe that he has taken the citizenship of Vanuatu, Polynesia. Citing the reason behind leaving the country, Vinay claimed that as former general secretary of TMYC’s Bengal unit, he was getting threats from the BJP. He also claimed that he was being “targeted” by both the CBI and the ED.

Stating his inability to join the investigation physically due to the pandemic situation, Vinay urged the court to allow him to join the investigation virtually. He promised to appear before the CBI personally once the pandemic situation normalized and movement restrictions were lifted. Till that time, he sought protection from arrest and cancellation of the Lookout Circular and Red Corner Notice.

Justice Tirthankar Ghosh is hearing the case.