Published: January 28, 2015 00:00 IST | Updated: January 28, 2015 05:46 IST
Saradha scam: ED questions many “influential persons”
The agency seeks clarifications on financial transactions
The Saradha Group of companies, which duped lakhs of investors by promising phenomenal returns, had allegedly paid huge sums of money to several “influential persons” or their companies on various counts.
The Enforcement Directorate has so far questioned nearly a dozen such “influential persons” in connection with the financial transactions that are under scrutiny for identification of the proceeds of crime allegedly committed by Saradha chief Sudipta Sen.
It is learnt that the agency sought clarifications from Rajya Sabha MP Srinjoy Bose, who was arrested last November by the Central Bureau of Investigation, questioning him about a Rs.12-crore payment to his company Sangbad Pratidin. The bank account concerned and other properties have already been frozen by the ED.
Former Congress Minister from Assam, Anjan Dutta — whose company Anubhuti Printers allegedly received Rs.7 crore from Saradha — has also been questioned, while former Congress Minister Matang Sinh has been quizzed as his various companies allegedly received about Rs. 28 crore.
Since West Bengal Minister of Textiles Shyamapada Mukherjee had allegedly sold his company Landmark Cements to the Saradha Group chief for Rs. 4.84 crore, the ED also sought explanations from him.
Among those questioned were Rajya Sabha MP Arpita Ghosh, who allegedly received Rs. 85 lakh; Ratikanta Basu, whose company Broadcast Worldwide was sold for Rs.19 crore and thereafter it received another Rs. 30 crore as fresh capital; and Manoranjana Sinh, the estranged wife of Matang Sinh, whose firm GNN Limited allegedly received about Rs. 26 crore.
The agency found that Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Hasan Imran had also allegedly got Rs.45 lakh for his newspaper Azad Hind and after Sudipta Sen took over the venture, he continued to be the publications editor.
Among others said to be figuring in the ‘influential persons’ list are the Bollywood actor and Rajya Sabha MP Mithun Chakraborty, who reportedly received Rs. 2 crore; and famous painter Suvaprasanna, whose company Debkripa allegedly received Rs. 6.5 crore.
Printable version | Jan 31, 2015 9:04:06 PM | http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/saradha-scam-ed-questions-many-influential-persons/article6827999.ece
Saradha scam: Former Union minister Matang Sinh arrested, grilled
Last updated on: January 31, 2015 19:54 IST
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Saturday arrested former Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Matang Sinh in connection with Saradha chit fund scam case, making him first former central minister to be apprehended by the agency in the case.CBI sources said Sinh has been arrested for alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating and misappropriation of funds related to Saradha Realty, one of the companies of the group which is being probed by the agency.
The sources said Sinh was called to the headquarters of Special Investigation Team in Kolkata where he was grilled by the team for over five hours before being arrested.
CBI sources said arrest became imminent as he was not cooperating with the investigation team on some important issues prompting the agency to take him into their custody during which another round of examination might take place.
Recently, CBI has arrested Director of Saradha realty Shibnarayan Das whose interrogation has given some vital leads about the alleged role of Sinh in the Saradha realty which was used for duping thousands of gullible investors in the case, the sources said.
Das, who was on the run, was apprehended in Kolkata and a fully-loaded 0.38 calibre revolver was seized from him.
Sources said it was Das who had allegedly suggested to Sudipta Sen, the Chairman of Saradha group to start a chit fund company and lure investors to deposit in their schemes in 2008, promising attractive returns.
CBI sources said that after establishing the Saradha group on July 8, 2008, Sen had appointed Das as the Director and shareholder.
According to sources, it was suggested by Das that while 30 per cent of the deposits would be retained by them, the rest could be returned to investors after 10-12 years at a decent interest.
CBI has so far registered four cases against the Saradha group in West Bengal on the directions of the Supreme Court.
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/saradha-scam-former-union-minister-matang-sinh-arrested-grilled/20150131.htm?print=true