7 days' judicial remand for Saradha accused Kunal Ghosh

A city court today remanded suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh to seven days' judicial custody after he dramatically recused his lawyer from speaking for him and then pleaded for either bail or CBI custody to 'assist' the agency in its Saradha chit fund scam probe.

Metropolitan magistrate Arvind Mishra rejected his prayers and remanded Ghosh to judicial custody till September 18, as sought by CBI. On being produced before the judge, Ghosh said he wanted to say something before the court. But the court did not allow it and said as he had given his lawyer the authority to speak for him, he could not make any submission unless he withdrew the power given to his counsel.

Ghosh immediately wrote on a piece of paper that he was withdrawing the power given to his lawyer. The judge also directed Ghosh not to speak anything outside the case.

Ghosh had created a flutter on Saturday when he stated in the court that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee be interviewed by CBI along with Saradha Group chairman Sudipta Sen and himself. Ghosh told the court today that other chit fund companies be also probed along with Saradha by CBI and that those involved in these should also be arrested.

Taking out a piece of paper, Ghosh said some chit fund companies were still collecting money from the public. He claimed that chit fund companies were also sponsoring an event of which former Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee was the chairman.