saradha scam

Following the Supreme Court order handing the saradha scam probe to the CBI, it seems the central agency too is looking to strengthen its team that may comprise people who have the technical expertise to handle the probe.

Former union minister Matang Sinh was on Saturday arrested by the CBI in connection with the multi-crore rupees saradha scam after he was grilled for over seven hours.

Within two days of the Supreme Court order on the saradha scam, several Ponzi firms in the state have started pulling down shutters.

A city court on Wednesday extended the judicial remand of Assamese singer Sadanand Gogoi and three others accused in the multi-crore saradha scam till December three, rejecting their bail prayers.

Suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh, who is hospitalized after allegedly attempting suicide on Friday in jail, claimed on Saturday that "those guilty and involved in the saradha scam are roaming free" and demanded that they be arrested.

The CBI has summoned West Bengal minister and TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee in connection with the investigation into the saradha scam, a senior officer said. Chatterjee is the state education minister besides holding the portfolio of legislative affairs.

"This arrest is illegal and unconstitutional, its all political vendetta," a livid Mamata Banerjee said after CBI arrested her transport minister in connection with saradha scam.

With Mamata Banerjee targeting him on the saradha scam issue, finance minister P Chidambaram today rejected allegations by the West Bengal chief minister that Enforcement Directorate was acting at his behest.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CBI is set to register the first set of FIRs in the multi-crore saradha scam in June first week.

Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday summoned a close aide of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Shankudeb Panda, for questioning in connection with the saradha scam while restricting the sale of properties of noted painter Subhaprasanna and former union minister Matang Sinh.

Suspended Trinamool MP, in his suicide note, claimed consuming 58 sleeping pills. He had threatened on Monday to commit suicide within 3 days if not granted bail.

With chief minister Mamata Banerjee singling him — and his advocate wife — out for a no-holds-barred attack on the saradha scam, finance minister P Chidambaram on Saturday chided Mamata saying instead of being concerned with people “charged with wrongdoings”, she should be bothered about the victims.

Three weeks after taking over probe into the saradha scam, CBI on Wednesday registered 46 FIRs — three in West Bengal and 43 in Odisha — naming several companies of the group, its CMD, directors and CEOs.

Arindam Das alias Bumba one of the prime suspects in the saradha scam escaped from the CBI net, when the CBI team along with the local police of Baruipur, South 24-Parganas to arrest him.

Trinamool Congress functionary Mukul Roy, who has been asked to appear before the CBI in connection with the saradha scam, on Wednesday said he would be available to the agency on January 30 and cooperate in the probe.

"Trinamool Congress MPs will protest in Parliament against BJP's politics of vendetta," Mamata Banerjee said.

The CBI yesterday carried out raids at 22 places in Assam, Kolkata and Mumbai, including on two former Assam ministers.

Trinamool Congress national secretary Mukul Roy's former aide Asif Khan, who is now in custody, has dragged Mamata Banerjee's blue-eyed boy and state minister Firhad Hakim's name into the saradha scam controversy.

Riniki Sarma, wife of former Assam minister Himanshu Sarma was on Tuesday grilled by Enforcement Directorate (ED) here in connection with the multi-crore saradha scam.

Former Assam director general of police Shankar Barua, quizzed recently by CBI in connection with saradha scam, allegedly shot himself dead at his residence today.

Arrested Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal minister Madan Mitra may have named three CPM leaders for alleged involvement in the saradha scam, but CBI is yet to find any evidence against them.

Days after elections got over, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has begun questioning of politicians in connection with the saradha scam.

In a big jolt for Mamata Banerjee, TMC leader and West Bengal transport minister Madan Mitra has been arrested for his role in the multi-crore saradha scam.

Left parties staged a demonstration in Kolkata on Monday demanding arrest of the accused people in saradha scam.

Congress on Wednesday made known its unhappiness over its senior leader Kapil Sibal representing West Bengal government in the multi-crore saradha scam in the Supreme Court, two days after its state unit expressed objection to it.

Some officers of West Bengal Police are under the scanner of CBI for alleged destruction of crucial documents related to saradha scam having evidential value.

saradha scam prime accused Sudipta Sen on Thursday filed a petition in the high court and prayed for a directive to club all cases against him and arrange a special court for his trial.

The CBI has dismissed Trinamool Congress’ allegations that it’s pursuing BJP’s “vendetta politics” in its probe into the saradha scam and said the investigations began on the directions of the Supreme Court when the Congress-led UPA was in power.

A day after CBI interrogated Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy, the BJP on Saturday demanded the investigation agency interrogate West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam.