Bengal police fortify court for Madan Mitra appearance

With the CBI seeking enhanced security arrangements, the city police Tuesday fortified a court where West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra, arrested for his alleged role in the Saradha chit fund scam, would appear.

Mitra was arrested Dec 12 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and a day later was remanded in a four-day custody of the agency. He is being presented before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Sanjeev Daruka on the expiry of his remand.

Following a ruckus created by Trinamool Congress activists during Mitra's hearing at the Alipore court, the CBI wrote to the city Police Commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayastha and his Bidhannagar counterpart Rajeev Kumar. The agency requested adequate security measures be taken when Mitra is driven to the court in areas under their purview.

To prevent the recurrence of any such incident, a sufficient number of security personnel has been deployed with the entire court premises barricaded and police manning the entry and exit points, said a police officer.

Mitra was brought to the CBI office from the Electronics Complex police station where he was lodged. He will be taken to the court from the office.

Led by Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee, the ruling Trinamool Congress has been staging rallies and marches to protest the arrest as well as to show solidarity with Mitra - one of the trusted lieutenants of the party.