Saradha scandal: Pressure mounts on TMC, ED questions party MP

Trinamool Congress MP Srinjoy Bose was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Saradha scam

After being summoned by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Srinjoy Bose today was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Saradha scam today.

Besides being a TMC Rajya Sabha MP, Srinjoy Bose also owns the Bengali daily Pratidin, which had a tie-up with Saradha's media house. Former TMC Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh, now behind bars for his alleged role in the Saradha scam, also worked for Bose's newspaper besides being the head of Saradha's media wing.

Kunal Ghosh before being arrested by West Bengal police for his links with Saradha, in a 36-minute video broadcast on a local Bengali channel last year, named Bose along with several other TMC leaders for their alleged complicity in the Saradha scam.

Meanwhile Ghosh while being presented before the metropolitan magistrate here today, hit out once again at the TMC leadership, saying, he has a lot more to reveal to CBI.

“Those who have beneifitted most from Saradha are now busy inaugurating Durga Puja and I 'll be behind the bars — this cannot go on,” Ghosh said.

“I have a lot more to say to the CBI. There is threat to my life. If something happens to me, the truth will never emerge,” he said.Saradha promoter, Sudipta Sen, who was also produced in the city court today said that he would like speak to the media. He sought permission for the same. Metropolitan magistrate Arvind Mishra will hear the case again on on October 21.

After taking over the investigation following Supreme Court order, CBI had earlier arrested East Bengal Football club official Debabrata Sarkar and city-businessman Sandhir Agarwal. CBI recently had quizzed Asif Khan, a close aide of TMC general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Roy as well, and conducted searches at his residence.

The Enforcement Directorate, which is also carrying out a parallel probe into the money trail of Saradha, had earlier quizzed TMC Lok Sabha MP Arpita Ghosh and Rajya Sabha MP Ahmad Hassan Imran. Both were associated with Saradha group's media arm.