Enforcement Directorate interrogates Rathikanta Basu in Saradha scam

The Enforcement Directorate on MOnday quizzed former Doordarshan director general Rathikanta Basu in connection with the multi-crore rupees Saradha ponzi scam.

ED sources told PTI that Basu, also former chairman of Broadcast Media Worldwide (BMW), appeared before its officers on Monday and gave his statement.

Later, Basu told reporters that ED special director Yogesh Gupta had asked him to appear before the agency in connection with the sale of Tara TV channels formerly owned by BMW to the Saradha Group.

Basu said he told the ED that although he was the chairman of BMW till 2011, the year when the sale transaction was effected, he was a minority shareholder with only 12% stake.

The majority shareholding was with Shiva Ventures and he had transferred his shares in favour of it before the sale of Tara TV's four channels to Sudipto Sen of Saradha Group, Basu said..

The value of the deal was Rs 18 crore, while the value of his shares was Rs 31 lakh, which Basu claimed was never realised by him.

Shiva Ventures had got "some money" but not the entire amount, which was promised to be paid at a later date by Sen for which the Saradha chief had mortgaged one of his properties to the company.