Conspiracy, says 'rebel' Trinamool MP after Saradha scam quizzing

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Kunal Ghosh Saturday faced four-hour police grilling in connection with the multi-crore Saradha scam, a day after he raised the banner of revolt against the party leadership.

He will again be quizzed Sunday.

Ghosh said a "conspiracy" has been hatched against him.

"A conspiracy has been hatched against me. But who all are behind the conspiracy I can't say. I am ready to face any probe. I've full confidence in the police, the detective department and (chief minister) Mamata Banerjee," Ghosh told media persons after the questioning.

This is the second time that Ghosh has been questioned in relation to the scam.

Ghosh, who got a call Friday night from Bidhanagar deputy commissioner (detective department) Arnab Ghosh, said: "I'll come again tomorrow (Sunday). I am prepared to fully cooperate with police."

Ghosh, and two actor-turned-MPs Satabdi Roy and Tapas Pal, had shared the dais at a blood donation camp here Friday alongside rebel party legislator Shikha Mitra and her husband Lok Sabha member Somen Mitra, who is perceived to be emerging as a rallying point of the rebels.

Roy and Pal praised Shikha Mitra, who has been for quite some time using every opportunity to take pot-shots at the leadership including Banerjee for the way the party was being run and has also filed a defamation case against Trinamool heavyweight Partha Chatterjee.

"She has the guts to say the truth," commented Roy.

The leadership later said Ghosh, Roy and Pal will be show-caused for the "anti-party" comments.

Speaking at the camp, Ghosh had lambasted the party leadership alleging he was being made a victim of the Saradha controversy by those involved in the scam and apprehended he could be killed by those trying to hush up the issue.

He demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Saradha scam where thousands of small-time depositors lost their life's savings by parking their hard-earned funds in the company's schemes lured by high interest rates.

The Trinamool MP also questioned the honesty of the leadership, saying: "There is a limit to the image of honesty."

With Banerjee being regularly touted as a "symbol of honesty" in Trinamool posters and banners, there was no doubt who Ghosh's target was.

Saradha Group boss Sudipta Sen and his aides are now behind bars after the company closed shop in April unable to pay back the depositors, triggering a spate of suicides by agents and investors and protests across the state.

Ghosh headed Saradha's media arm till April, and his name also figured in a letter written to the CBI by Sen April 6 accusing several high profile Trinamool Congress and Congress leaders of complicity in the scam.

Ghosh Saturday said he asked for the CBI probe after facing political attack related to the scam.

Trinamool national general secretary Mukul Roy said the party's disciplinary committee has decided to show-cause Ghosh, Pal and Satabdi Roy for anti-party comments.

Ghosh claimed he was yet to receive any such letter from the party.

"When a respected leader like Mukul Roy has said I will be show-caused, then definitely the party will send me a letter. I will reply once I receive the letter," he said.

Meanwhile, in a crackdown on Shikha Mitra, Trinamool legislature party has decided to write to Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay for making separate seating arrangements for her, as she has been suspended from the party.

The Trinamool had last year announced Shikha's suspension, but the lawmaker has so long claimed she was yet to receive any letter.