Saradha scam: Madan Mitra accuses CBI of exerting pressure on him to name Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal transport and sports minister Madan Mitra has accused the CBI of putting pressure on him to name chief minister Mamata Banerjee in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam. 

“My arrest is a conspiracy. The CBI is forcing me to name Banerjee in connection with the chit fund scam. They are putting a lot of pressure on me and forcing me to say that Banerjee has taken money,” Mitra claimed,” Mitra alleged before the judge at the Alipore Court. 

Earlier in the day, while Mitra was being taken to the CBI office in Salt Lake City for questioning, he told reporters he was disappointed with the CBI’s attitude towards him. “From MLAs to lawyers, the CBI is refusing to allow anyone to meet me,” he said, adding, “Even my family members have not been allowed to talk to me.” 

Mitra had been arrested by the CBI on Friday in connection with the Saradha chit-fund scam.

Meanwhile, the Alipore Court remanded Mitra to three days of CBI custody till December 19. The CBI counsel produced some evidence before the court, after which the court sent him to CBI custody. However, the judge ruled out the CBI counsel’s plea of voice recording of the minister.