At a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raked up the infamous "syndicate raj" issue to target the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, a section of TMC leaders have been caught on tape openly endorsing the illegal practice.

Speaking to party workers in Purulia, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen said, "We shall come back after July 21. There will be an audit of how much you have collected so far, how much you have deposited in banks and how much have you taken back home. We shall take full note of the amount and deposit 75 per cent in the party fund keeping the rest with you people."

Sen made these remarks at a preparatory meeting in Purulia on July 11 ahead of party's mega Martyr's Day rally in Kolkata on July 21. Not just Sen, when asked to elaborate about the new diktat, party's trade union leader Prafulla Mahato explained, "We have been instructed that of the total "tola" (extortion) money, 70 per cent has to be deposited with Trinamool Bhawan (party HQ)."

"The new instruction has just come in today so we shall follow it now," Mahato said when asked if party cadres have already been following the rule.

Fresh out of PM Modi's mega rally in Purulia, the Bengal BJP claims their charges have only been vindicated.

"No industries, no factories are coming up here, hence, the unemployed are being employed using these syndicates."

So far, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has maintained a stoic silence on PM's syndicate tirade. TMC has only issued a written statement countering the BJP's claims with plain rhetoric. Mamata Banerjee is expected to respond to the allegations from her July 21 rally in Kolkata.

"Who knows better than the BJP leaders about syndicate? Your party is a syndicate that peddles religious extremism. Your party is a syndicate for fanatics. Your party is a lynching syndicate. Your party is a torture syndicate. Your party is a syndicate of corruption. So, BJP leaders should not play with fire," the party stated.

When India Today reached out to TMC MP Dola Sen for her clarification, Sen claimed it was a "concocted video, possibly released by BJP".

"The recording that you have collected is from whatsapp and social media viral. It is a concocted effort from BJP. It is not my deliberation. Probably it is manufactured by the BJP. It is not my statement. And Prafulla Mahato is no one, he is not the spokesperson and is not entitled to make any such a statement," the MP said.

In a stunning u-turn, her party junior Mahato said, "At the meeting we had spoken about monthly donations we collect from our members, but a section of media is running a false campaign calling it extortion. We are against all forms of extortion. My words have been distorted. I had said "chanda" (donation) but they are calling it "tola."

Not just real estate, extortion charges have gripped Bengal's education system too. Fate of thousands of students trying to seek college admission now hangs in balance as TMC run unions have been accused of forcing students to pay up hefty sums for admission.

"We are being harassed continuously. Dispute furnishing all required documents we are get getting admission. The unions are demanding anywhere between Rs 30,000-60,000 for us to get admitted," said one of the aspirants seeking admission into Surendranath college.

"Union leaders are not even allowing us to meet the college principal. They are saying all seats have been blocked and for remaining seats which are with the union we have to pay up Rs 25,000 for admission," claimed another student outside the same college.

Amidst the admission chaos, the state government has announced an extension of the admission process till August 20. The decision comes in the wake of a status report submitted by the Calcutta University to the state higher education department showing huge number of seats lying vacant across colleges.

"Wherever there are vacant seats, be it in pass or degree courses, the admission process will continue till August 20. The secretary of the undergraduate (UG) council at CU has been directed to send necessary instructions to the concerned colleges," Chatterjee said, reiterating that admission shall take place strictly on the basis of merit and students must pay the admission fee directly to the bank accounts of the college.

Accusing the TMC of destroying the state's education environment, CPI(M) leader Fuad Halim said, "Total anarchy has been unleashed in the state. TMC leaders can't control their own cadres as this has become an open source of income for them."

WATCH | West Bengal syndicate exposed, TMC leaders stunning confession caught on camera