TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's wife issued notice by MHA for 'concealing' her Thai citizenship in PAN application

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a notice to the wife of Trinamool Congress leader and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee for obtaining Permanent Account Number (PAN) card without mentioning that she is a citizen of Thailand. 

In the notice issued to Rujira Naroola, the MHA said, "Whereas the Central Government, has been further informed that on 14.11.2009 Ms. Rujira Naroola applied for PAN card by filling Form 49A without intimating her real status as a Thai national holding OCI card and mentioning Shri Gursharan Singh Ahuja as her father. She was actually required to fill Form 49AA to get a PAN by declaring herself as a foreigner holding an OCI card. On the basis of information given in her application Form 49A, she has obtained the PAN card bearing no ****** under the name Ms. Rujira Naroola in the capacity of an Indian citizen.” 

The notice further reads, “Whereas the Central Government has examined the matter the discrepancies mentioned above and is prima facie of the opinion that the registration of Ms. Rujira Naroola as an OCI cardholder is liable for cancellation in the interest of general public under sub clause (a) & (e) of section 70D of the Citizenship Act, 1955.” 

“Ms Rujira Naroola, an OCI Cardholder, is hereby called upon 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,” the notice added. 

The notice has sought her reply within 15 days. "If no reply is received within 15 days from the date of issue of this notice then appropriate decision in the matter would be taken on merit on the basis of available records by the Central Government," the notice by the Foreigners Division of the MHA concludes. 

Copy of MHA notice to Abhishek Banerjee’s wife

Abhishek Banerjee’s lawyer Sanjay Basu, reacting to the notice, told Zee Media, “She will respond to the notice well within time.” 

However, minutes later, Basu denied confirming the receipt of the letter and alleged that he had not seen any show cause notice.