Special Correspondent

New Delhi: Convenor of Movement for Accountability to Public, Milap Chand Choraria, yesteryear applied to the President for sanction under the Prevention of Corruption Act to criminally prosecute West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu.

            Choraria showed stab wounds all over his body to newsmen and alleged that they were inflicted on him by Basus men, who are acting as the chief ministers benamis in huge real estate dealings.

            The deputy secretary to the government of India from the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions wanted the complainant to confirm whether he actually wrote to the president to sanction prosecution against Basu.

            In reply, Choraria said one year after  confirming to the president that he actually wanted to prosecute Basu there has been no reaction from New Delhi and, therefore, he has been forced to go for a public interest litigation (PIL). The PIL is now being contemplated against the chief minister in the Supreme Court, he said.

            The complainant claimed he has several documents as evidence against Basu which he would produce in court during hearings of the case.    

            Noted advocate and former solicitor-general in the Chandra Sekhar government A D Giri directed the complainant to have lawyers like Gopal Subramanian take up his case, the convenor said.

            He accused the chief minister of illegally protecting the land mafia who were out to eliminate him. Pointing at his sons crushed legs, he alleged that the chief ministers men had threatened his family members in Calcutta, and as a result the entire family had to flee to New Delhi.

            Choraria charged Jyoti Basu with misappropriation of public funds to tune of Rs.15 crore, taking illegal action against him and providing protection to the culprits.

            Naming the directors of M/S. Martin Burn Limited as his enemies, he complained that the West Bengal chief minister was protecting them as they were hand in glove with each other. The convenor said the company directors are trying to grab his property.

            He said he was stabbed with knives several times and his sons legs were crushed by a truck. The victim said he has also asked several Congress and CPI leaders to come to his aid and requested police protection.

            He appealed for protection to the president, as well as to CPI leader Inderjit Gupta, as his life is in danger and his fundamental rights are at a stake.