Rose Valley: CBI arrests film producer Shrikant Mohta

KOLKATA: The CBI arrested Bengal's biggest film producer and distributor, Shrikant Mohta, on Thursday for possible involvement in the Rose Valley scam. Mohta, co-founder of

Shree Venkatesh Films

(SVF), is likely to be flown to Bhubaneswar where he will be produced before a special CBI magistrate.


As CBI officers reached the SVF office around 11.30am on Thursday, they first met resistance from Mohta's personal guards and then Kasba police. The police asked for "documents" to be shown before "cooperating" with the CBI, an official said.

Kasba police officials, however, said they went by the law. The CBI announced Mohta's arrest within an hour of questioning him at their Salt Lake office. Mohta was not cooperating with them and refused to answer questions, they said.

He, officials said, failed to respond to several notices to appear for questioning. However, an SVF statement stated: "Mohta appeared before the CBI twice in the past and cooperated with the investigation but was not able to appear in January. This was communicated to the CBI, with a request to grant him 15 days' time. We strongly deny to the accusations."

The Calcutta high court "had quashed all charges alleged against him, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court", the statement added. Mohta's name first cropped up in the Rose Valley scam during an Enforcement Directorate probe. The Kolkata-headquartered Rose Valley group has cheated investors of more than Rs 15,000 crore, central agencies saidLawyers representing Mohta said they had already filed an application for anticipatory bail in the Odisha HC .

CBI insiders said Mohta's arrest pertained to a Rs-24 crore deal signed between SVF and a Rose Valley group-owned TV channel in 2010. It gave SVF broadcasting rights of 70 movies in the new television channel. A dispute arose after Rose Valley chairman Gautam Kundu alleged that SVF had given broadcasting rights of only 30 cinemas. Mohta countered these allegations saying 68 feature films were supplied but the CBI claimed a part of these funds were spent to buy paintings. The CBI has seized around 20 such paintings.

The arrest had a political fallout as well, with the Trinamool Congress accusing the Centre of using the CBI to "browbeat everyone" but all three of Bengal's opposition parties - BJP, Congress and CPM - questioning TMC's links with the producer-distributor.

TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said: "BJP has turned CBI into an extended party office."

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh, however, said the CBI "should have arrested him earlier."


Don't miss the yearly horoscope 2025 and Chinese horoscope 2025 for Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these Happy New Year wishes, messages, and quotes.