Saradha scam: Bengal minister Madan Mitra takes refuge in govt hospital ahead of CBI date

KOLKATA: Transport minister Madan Mitra quietly left Belle Vue Clinic on Thursday afternoon and took refuge in the government’s own SSKM Hospital, just a day before he is due to appear before CBI for questioning in the Saradha scam. The apparent reason is legal defence — a medical report from a government hospital gets more credence in court under Indian Evidence Act.
The change of place, however, makes no difference to CBI. “It doesn’t matter where he is admitted. We will ask for his medical reports from the authorities and get them examined by our panel of doctors before we decide our next step,” said CBI officer Kanchan Prasad.
Mitra tiptoed out of his cabin on the third floor around 3.15pm, leaving his guests waiting inside, say sources. He informed Belle Vue authorities on the way out though it is not clear if he signed a bond, which is mandatory for all patients leaving hospital on their own. Mitra apparently made up his mind to move to SSKM after he learnt that the tumours close to his spine may not need surgery. He got in touch with SSKM authorities on his own, say sources. “I need a medical board to monitor my health,” the minister said.
Doctors at Belle Vue said a board was being set up when Mitra left. “We conducted several tests on him this morning. More were to be done in the course of the day. In fact, we were busy selecting doctors for a board to supervise his treatment. But he surprised us by deciding to leave the hospital,” said a senior Belle Vue doctor.
Madan Mitra’s MRI report was ready and his tumours were confirmed to be non-malignant.
“Quite a few test reports are yet to arrive. I was not aware that he had left,” said critical care expert Subrata Maitra, one of the doctors treating him at Belle Vue for multiple disorders.
SSKM surgeon Diptendra Sarkar, who was going to conduct his surgery, said the tumours measured 4X3 cm and 2X3 cm.
“But they are not connected to his spinal cord. I have recommended a second surgeon’s opinion because the minister has a complex medical history. He suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemia and obstructive sleep apnea among other diseases. He is diabetic and needs an oxygen pump at night,” said Sarkar, adding that a medical board at SSKM will now take a call on his surgery.
Security was beefed up at SSKM’s Woodburn Ward as soon as Mitra took admission, sparking speculation in political and legal circles.
Congress leader Abdul Mannan wondered why the minister got himself admitted at Belle Vue when SSKM doctors are renowned. “It is good that he has returned to the government hospital. After all, Mitra has been overseeing SSKM for many years. He has a command over the hospital,” he said.
State BJP president Rahul Sinha was more direct: “He (Mitra) hopes to exert his political influence on the doctors, which he couldn’t at a private hospital.” Senior lawyer and CPM leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said: “He left the private hospital on his own. This man needs to be arrested. A lot of facts on the Saradha scam will go under-cover if he flees.”
Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi cautioned against drawing hasty inferences.
“The central agencies should be allowed to work independently without any prejudice. Calling people for questioning is part of the investigation process. I don’t think any inference should be drawn about those who have been called,” he said.