Calcutta, May 29 :     Detectives are trying to shield CPM leaders whose names figure in the diary of the missing Calcutta University assistant controller of examinations Manisha Mukherjee by reopening the case after two years and looking for a new scapegoat, according to a section of police officers. Mukherjee has been missing since September 1997. Detectives do not know whether she was abducted or simply disappeared. Police are looking for former Calcutta University controller of examinations Gopal Banerjee who is in one of the photographs given to detectives by Mukherjee?s mother, Chinu Devi, who found them in a box. Mukherjee was close to a number of CPM leaders, including some Politburo members. Her diary is filled with the names of these men. She was also in good terms with Banerjee who shared her interest in spiritualism. Detective department sources said that instead of interrogating CPM leaders on her disappearance, the police have launched a hunt for Banerjee who lives in Nimta, North 24-Parganas, with his family. ?They are shielding influential leaders so as not to fling mud on them. Banerjee is a soft target,? an officer said. The police had abandoned the case in 1997. During investigations, then deputy commissioner, detective department Nazrul Islam had recovered a diary belonging to Mukherjee. But investigations were dropped for unknown reasons. ?The police top brass must have got the ?go ahead? from the ruling CPM. There must have been some understanding between the party and the police. Gopal Banerjee could be made a scapegoat,? said another officer. Deputy commissioner, detective department, Narayan Ghosh said: ?Her mother has given some fresh clues and hence we have reopened the case. We will pursue it till the end.? CPM state secretary Anil Biswas said: ?We hope the police will be able to unravel the mystery and put wagging tongues to rest.? he said the party had no say in the police investigation. Mukherjee was an SFI activist, the students? arm of the CPM. Academic circles said she was made assistant controller with the blessings of CPM bigwigs. After joining the university, Mukherjee developed differences with her colleague, a deputy controller of examinations. Banerjee, Mukherjee and the deputy controller belonged to the three-member monitoring cell which handled result review applications. Mukherjee had refused to work with the deputy controller and had offered to quit. Banerjee and some influential CPM leaders then mollified her. After Banerjee retired, Sudin Chatterjee was appointed controller of examinations. Mukherjee?s relations with Chatterjee were allegedly not very good.