CBI arrests absconding Saradha director who convinced Sudipta Sen to float the firm

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday made a big breakthrough in the alleged multi-crore Saradha chitfund scam as it arrested a founder member of Saradha Realty who had allegedly convinced company boss Sudipta Sen to launch the ponzi scheme.

Sources said that the CBI arrested Shib Narayan Das in Kolkata, who was on the run ever since the agency had served notice for appearance to him

“Das was arrested today for his involvement in Saradha Realty India Limited in compliance to apex court court. He was on the run and did not respond to the CBI notice earlier,” said a CBI spokesperson here on Saturday.

It is learnt from CBI sources that he had convinced Sudipta Sen, the Saradha group chairman, to launch the ponzi scheme in which the CBI has so far registered four cases on the orders of the Supreme court. Sen had appointed Das as director and shareholder of the company in 2008 after the company was floated.

Following information about his know-about from sources and a thorough interrogation, Das was finally arrested by the agency. Sources said that at the time of his arrest, Das was “carrying an imported 0.38 fully loaded revolver along with ammunition which were also seized under due procedure.”

Sources said a notice was issued at his residence and neither did he response nor did he made himself available to join the investigation till date.

Before going into hiding, Sen had referred Das in a purported letter the former wrote to the CBI in 2013. In the letter Sen had alleged that his two drivers had introduced him to Das in June 2008 before Saradha firm was formed and Sen was told that Das is a “money market developer” working for a private firm. Sen further revealed that Das lured him by saying he would earn “thousand and thousand of crores for the company” and presented him various schemes.

It is indicated from the letter that Das had suggested Sen a scheme where the Saradha agents would get a hefty 30 per cent commission and there would be a long term payment return period.

Sen even said he “did not apply” his mind because he “did not have any idea about money market.”