ED quizzes former Bengal Minister in Narada, Saradha cases

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday quizzed former West Bengal Minister Madan Mitra in connection with the Narada sting case and Saradha ponzi scam.

The Trinamool Congress leader, who was in jail for nearly two years for his alleged involvement in the multi-billion rupee Saradha scandal before getting bail in September last year, appeared before the agency at their city office in CGO Complex here at around 12 noon, an official said.

Emerging from the agency office after the questioning, Mitra said he tried to answer all the queries. He said he was ready to cooperate with the central agencies like Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"I tried to answer all their questions. However, some of the happenings are really old and I do not remember everything as I went through a bad phase for nearly 22 months. That was a disastrous time for me," he said, responding to questions on the Saradha scam.

"Whatever situation I may be in, I am ready to cooperate with agencies like CBI and ED whenever they call me," Mitra added.

The agency lodged an FIR on April 17 against 13 persons, including several state ministers and MPs from the ruling Trinamool, a month after the Calcutta High Court ordered a preliminary inquiry into the Narada sting footage case.

They have already interrogated many of the accused in the case.

The controversy erupted in election-bound West Bengal in March last year when Narada News portal uploaded a video clip purportedly showing Trinamool leaders receiving money for extending favours to a fictitious company.

The ponzi scam came to light in early 2013 when the Saradha Group of companies downed shutters, unable to repay the investors -- most of them poor and from rural areas -- who had parked their life's savings in its various schemes lured by promises of returns far higher than market rates.

A number of Trinamool leaders, including Mitra, were arrested or quizzed in connection with the scam.

--IANS

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