Kolkata: BJP MLA Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar rape-and-murder victim, has sparked a controversy over alleged attempt to take over 128-year-old Panihati Sporting Club.Debnath claimed she found the club gate locked when she arrived for a Bijoya Sammilani on Saturday. She returned with husband Shekhar Debnath on Sunday and collected the keys from employee Robin Mondal.“Locking the gate cannot stop the development of the ground, nor can it stop me,” Debnath said.Club member Tapan Das accused her of attempting a takeover, while Arun Ray Chowdhury alleged damage to club property.Debnath denied the allegations. “The secretary has resigned and handed over the responsibility to me. So, whom should I inform?” she asked.Former secretary Rajarshi Ball alleged he was assaulted after the May 4 assembly election results. “They assaulted me there. They said everything related to the ground had to be handed over to them,” he said.The controversy follows a football tournament at the club ground days earlier, during which Shekhar had alleged that his wife was insulted.Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh criticised Debnath. “Just because election is over and the results have gone a certain way, does that mean clubs can be taken over?” he asked.
