CBI files cases against MPS Greenery, Akashdeep Projects

The CBI, which is probing the multi-crore rupee Saradha scam, has filed FIRs against two companies - MPS Greenery and Akashdeep Projects Ltd - for alleged criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy, an official said Saturday.

MPS Group chairman Pramatha Nath Manna and director Prabir Kumar Chanda are now behind bars after they were arrested by the West Bengal Police Friday for alleged cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.

Taking over the probe reins of the Saradha scam in West Bengal following a Supreme Court directive, this is the first set of FIR, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed against a non-Saradha company.

"The CBI has registered cases against MPS Greenery and Akashdeep Projects Ltd. in pursuance of hon'ble apex court order dated May 9. Cases have been registered against the managing director and directors of these companies on the allegation of criminal breach of trust, cheating, criminal conspiracy and abetment," said a CBI spokesperson.

"These are the first set of FIRs against companies other than Saradha group in West Bengal. More cases likely to be registered in the near future," added the official.

Probing the scam in Bengal, the CBI has so far arrested four people including Trinamool Congress leader and former IPS officer Rajat Majumdar.

Beside interrogating Saradha promoter and scam kingpin Sudipta Sen and suspended Trinamool MP Kunal Ghosh, CBI sleuths have grilled several others including Trinamool MP Srinjoy Bose and Suvendu Adhikari and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Rabin Deb.