CBI asks Trinamool Congress its source of income

The day when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a loan waiver for the debt-ridden Bengal, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sent out a summons to the Trinamool Congress.

The investigation agency currently probing the multi-crore rupee Saradha chit fund scam sent a notice to the Trinamool Bhawan, the party headquarters in the state seeking a detailed report of party’s accounts from 2010-2014.

The notice, signed by Tathagata Bardhan, ABBC superintendent of police of the CBI, was also sent to the party’s former all-India general secretary, Mukul Roy and the information has been sought by March 10. “I have no access to party accounts since February 28, as I have been removed from the post of all India general secretary. I am not even attending the office,” Roy replied to an email to the CBI.

Meanwhile, the party has maintained that they have not received any notice from the CBI.

In its notice, the agency wants to know who bought the paintings of Banerjee, reportedly sold for close to Rs 2 crore at an exhibition of the chief minister’s works. The CBI also sought information on the donations to the party and the advertisements carried in the party’s organ - ‘Jago Bangla’ between the same period - 2010 to 2014.