CBI acting on SC's direction not BJP's, says Siddharth Nath Singh

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh on Saturday criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for alleging that the BJP is behind the arrest of Trinamool Congress (TMC) minister Madan Mitra, and said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is acting upon the Supreme Court's order.

"When the scam came out in the open, you didn't want to investigate because your close associates like Kunal Ghosh, Sudipto Sen, Srinjoy Bose and Madan Mitra were all involved in the scam. Then it was Supreme Court which ordered an inquiry in May 2014 and the BJP was not even in the government then. The accusations in the first place didn't come from the BJP; it came from within your own party. It is for Mamata Banerjee to introspect as to why this happened," Singh told ANI here.

Terming West Bengal Chief Minister's reaction as 'unfortunate', Singh asked why Banerjee didn't stop the scam when it was taking place right under her nose.

"It's unfortunate that Mamata Banerjee rather than giving a sober advice to her own leadership of not to react is herself reacting. It goes to show her panic button. One should ask Mamata Banerjee that you were the chief minister and this scam happened under your very nose, your own government was there, why didn't you stop it in first place? ," he added.

In yet another setback to the West Bengal Government, the CBI on Friday arrested Mitra in connection with the Saradha chit-fund scam.

The CBI had earlier this week summoned him for questioning.

Last month, TMC Member of Parliament Srinjoy Bose was arrested by the CBI in connection with the scam.