Commission begins probing Saradha chit fund mess

Kolkata, April 26 (IANS) The five-man inquiry commission headed by former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen Friday began probing the Saradha Group chit fund scam and will submit its report within six months.

"The commission has formally begun its probe. There are four other members in the commission including an economist, a police officer and a professor," said Sen.

The commission announced by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will submit its report within six months.

The multi-crore-rupee chit fund scam allegedly has the involvement of several key leaders from the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state.

The chief of the fraudulent company Sudipta Sen is behind bars on charges of cheating.

Meanwhile, Justice (retd.) Sen also rubbished claims that he was closely associated with one of the many chit fund companies flourishing in the state.

"I attended the programmed organised by a company only at their request. But that doesn't means I have an association with the company," he clarified.

After Banerjee named Sen as the head of the panel, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Gautam Deb warned the chief minister against appointing "anybody with close links with one of the chit fund companies".