CBI files new case against Saradha

KOLKATA: The CBI on Friday registered two fresh cases against Saradha boss Sudipta Sen in connection with alleged cheating of investors in Assam by his company. On the same day, central agencies began tracing more than Rs 50 crore that Sudipta had reportedly parked with his immediate family before he fled Kolkata in April last year.
CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad said that the cases of alleged cheating and criminal breach of trust were registered by the special investigation team of the agency headed by joint director Rajiv Singh.On Friday, the CBI also asked a shareholder of Urdu news daily Kolom, who is an aide of a top Trinamool Congress leader, to be present for questioning at its office in Salt Lake CGO complex next week.
Sources said the agency had received a reference from the Assam government to probe alleged duping of investors in the state by Saradha group of companies by offering lucrative interest on their savings. With this, the number of cases that have been lodged against Saradha accusing Sudipta and top Trinamool leaders rises to six.
The agency has already raided the houses and offices of some ministers and MPs from Assam. It has even arrested renowned Assamese singer Sadananda Gogoi for being a beneficiary of the Saradha group.
The agency also wants to probe the link of Sudipta’s wife Piyali and son Subhojit with a Trinamool leader and his son. The Trinamool leader also reportedly assured Sudipta of his family’s safety and security when Sudipta decided to flee Kolkata sensing trouble. However, as the Enforcement Directorate has already arrested both Piyali and Subhojit, the probe may now also include Sudipta’s first wife Madhumita and another top Saradha staff. That the Trinamool leader is firmly in the spotlight of the investigating agencies along with a Trinamool MP became clear on Saturday after the CBI officials asked the leader’s aide to report to CGO complex on Monday along with the necessary documents of Kolom newspaper. This aide has earlier been questioned by ED. “We are keen to know this leader’s stakes in Kolom,” said a source.
Senior CBI officers in Delhi said that there was a reason why the Assam cases needed separate FIRs. “The bureaucracy needs to be closely looked at here,” said a source. The source said CBI’s investigation into the case partly centers on protection money given by Sudipta to various people in Assam.
Sudipta addressed a petition to an ADG (law and order) of Assam Police on December 17, 2012, requesting immunity from police action. In his letter, Sen had written, “In any case any person approaches local police to lodge an FIR or complaint (against) our company/individual of our company, don’t register any case against (them) without proper enquiry and without giving us an opportunity to explain…”
Based on the petition, an IG of Assam Police issued instruction to SPs of all districts with this effect on January 1, 2013.