Saradha scam: Court allows CBI to record Kunal Ghosh's statements in jail

The city sessions court hearing the Saradha scam case on Monday allowed accused and suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh to submit his statements before the CBI investigating officer in jail within his renewed custody till October 21. Metropolitan magistrate Aravind Mishra, who is hearing the case, also sent Saradha Group chief Sudipta Sen and his close associate Debjani Mukherjee to jail custody till that date.

After CBI produced the three and sought extension of their custody, Ghosh himself prayed for his bail as the defence counsel was on `not to attend' call owing to the death of a lawyer of the court. Ghosh pleaded that he be allowed to submit his statements before the investigating officer under Sec 161 of CrPC and later broke down inside the court room. He also pleaded that his statements be allowed to be submitted before the magistrate under Sec 164.

The judge then directed the CBI investigating officer to submit a report to him in this regard after recording Ghosh's statements under Sec 161. Sen also prayed for his bail himself and also sought permission to talk to media on a specific date and time, which the judge rejected.