CBI also interrogated West Bengal Textiles Minister Shyamapada Mukherjee , while State Transport Minister Madan Mitra, who was also served a summon is admitted to state-run SSKM Hospital
The discomfiture of Mamata Banerjee over ongoing investigation of Saradha scam went up manifold on Friday when Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Srinjoy Bose. Bose is also a prominent businessman of Kolkata with interest in port cargo handling, and a media baron, owning Bengali daily Sambad Pratidin. He was asked to appear before the CBI officials, deposed before the sleuths on Friday morning and was interrogated for his business dealing with Saradha Group chief Sudipto Sen.
West Bengal Textiles Minister Shyamapada Mukherjee was also interrogated on Friday. State Transport Minister Madan Mitra, who was also asked to appear before CBI on Friday in connection with the scam, was admitted to state-run SSKM Hospital on Thursday, after a brief stay at a private clinic in the city.
Bose father Swapan Sadhan, who promoted the businesses, was TMC Rajya Sabha member, too.
Due to Bose's family presence in the media that brought him close to Saradha Group when he played a key role in planting Kunal Ghosh, then editor of Sambad Pratidin as the media head of Saradha group that launched several dailies like Bengal Post.
While Bose has been demanding that the collaboration between Sambad Pratidin and Saradha was a commercial agreement, Saradha boss Sen had alleged that he was forced into this pact brokered by Ghosh on behalf of Trinamool as a front to siphon off Saradha's money.
The development comes within days of Ghosh, key accused in scam, now behind bars, attempting suicide demanding that real culprits be booked. CBI sources said that Bose would be produced before the Alipore court on Saturday.
A CBI spokesperson said that Bose was arrested "for his prima facie involvement in the Saradha realty case and for allegations of criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of funds and deriving undue financial benefits."
Bose is among eight prominent persons arrested by CBI in the Saradha case. The others arrested are Sen, his aide Debjani Mukherjee, suspended Trinamool MP Kunal Ghosh, ex-West Bengal Police DG Rajat Majumdar, Assamese singer Sadananda Gogoi, East Bengal club official Debabrata Sarkar and businessman Sandhir Agarwal, all of whom have been named in a charge sheet by the investigating agency.
—(with agency inputs)
Opposition hails arrest of TMC MP, BJP demands CM statement
The opposition Left Front, BJP and Congress on Friday hailed the arrest of Trinamool Congress MP and editor of a Bengali daily Srinjoy Bose in the Saradha scam and said that West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee should give a statement on this matter.
"I think the investigation is going in the right direction. A time might come that several other top leaders of Trinamool Congress are behind the bars in relation to Saradha scam. Chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee should give a statement and explain to the people of Bengal regarding the arrest of her party leaders in the Saradha scam," BJP state president Rahul Sinha said.
"This arrest proves what we have been saying for too long that Trinamool Congress leadership is involved in Saradha scam. No one can evade law. Those who are getting admission in hospital to evade CBI questioning should cooperate with CBI," state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said.
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