New Delhi: The union home ministry has now sent a notice to Rujira Naroola, wife of TMC MP and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, asking her to explain the reason for ‘false representation’ made to the government. 

The notice accessed by MyNation was sent on March 29 and was signed by Deputy Secretary Manoj Kumar Jha. The notice has also sought clarifications from Naroola within 15 days after the date of issue to explain the discrepancies.

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This comes days after the customs department alleged Naroola along with another lady were found to be in possession of ‘jewellery’ at Kolkata airport .

The controversy erupted after custom alleged in its complaint that when the two were requested to get their luggage checked, the passengers started abusing the officers and threatened them with "dire consequences".

Though the claims were rubbished by Rujira Naroola but assumed significance since the customs department lodged a complaint demanding FIR against Rujira and the lady accompanying her for ‘obstruction’ of duty as well as police personnel for what the customs department called as ‘criminal intimidation’. 

What is the alleged violation?

The MHA notice alleged, Rujira Naroola applied for PAN card by filing Form 49A without intimating her real status as a Thai national holding OCI card. According to the MHA notice, Naroola is a Thai national. The notice claims, on November 14, 2009, while applying for her PAN card, Ms Naroola concealed her real status. 

The notice read, “She was actually required to fill Form 49AA to get a PAN by declaring herself as a foreigner holding an OCI card but she has obtained the PAN card bearing No. AJNPN2**** under the name Ms Rujira Naroola in the capacity of an Indian citizen.”


Now, what?

According to the notice the Indian Government has examined the matter and found  “the discrepancies mentioned above and is prima facie of the opinion that registration of Ms Rujira Naroola as an OCI card holder is liable for cancellation in the interest of general public Sub Clauses (a) & (e) of Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955”. 

Hence, Rujira Naroola is asked to “show cause as to why she has made false representation and concealed material facts while submitting documents before the Competent Authorities to get her OCI and PAN cards,” reads the notice. 

The background to the Home Ministry’s notice

The notice sent by MHA said Rujira Naroola was issued a person of Indian origin (PIO) card by Indian Embassy in Bangkok on 8 January in 2010. It has Niphon Naroola mentioned as the father of Rujira, in the card. 

The notice further read, “She applied for conversion of her PIO card into OCI (overseas citizenship of India) card in the office of FRRO, Kolkata and issued the OCI card No. A2B7**** on 8 November 2017. One of the supporting documents submitted by Ms Rujira Naroola to get her PIO card converted into OCI card was the certificate of her marriage with Abhishek Banerjee which was issued on 13 February 2013 wherein she mentioned Mr Gursharan Singh Ahuja as her father.”

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My Nation has been trying to connect to both Abhishek Banerjee and his lawyer Sanjay Basu. More information is awaited.