CBI summons to Mukul Roy a 'major blow' to Mamata: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday termed the summoning of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mukul Roy by the Central Bureau of Investigation as a 'major blow' to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"[The summons] will be a big jolt to Mamata Banerjee because Mukul Roy has been a very close aide, a very important member and a senior member of TMC. He is one person who has known the entire function of their government in West Bengal including the Saradha chit fund," BJP national secretary Sidharth Nath Singh told ANI here.

"His summons is important because it is said that he was the last person whom Sudipta Sen had met before he ran away to Kashmir... It is a big jolt and a big step in the entire investigation on the Saradha chit fund," he added.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammed Salim accused Roy of socialising with BJP leaders in New Delhi.

"Mukul Roy knew very well that next is his turn, which is why he was busy in Delhi hobnobbing with the BJP leaders to prevent this summon... He also wanted that instead of Kolkata, the CBI must ask him to appear in Delhi," he said.

"It may be a shock for few Trinamool leaders but it will be a happy occasion for many others because people have suffered a lot in the hands of these chit fund operators," he added.

The CBI has summoned Roy in connection with the multi-crore Saradha scam. The TMC leader has been asked to appear before the CBI by the end of the week.