Noose tightens around TMC over Saradha, LTC probes

Regulators, govt bodies, investigating agencies pull up people having direct or indirect links with the party

The past few weeks have been particularly uncomfortable for the Trinamool Congress with regulators, government bodies, and investigating agencies, pulling up people having direct or indirect links with the party.

The income tax department conducted searches on party MP, K D Singh's premise and business concerns on Friday. A TMC leader, however, said that conducting a search did not mean that the person was guilty.

Less than 10 days ago, TMC's Rajya Sabha MP, Debabrata Bandyopadhyay's name surfaced in the leave travel concession controversy raked up by the country's apex investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation. Bandyopadhyay was among six other sitting and former MPs who allegedly claimed reimbursement through forged bills.

Bandyopadhyay, has however, explained that the travel agency was at fault while the party stood by him steadfastly. TMC condemned the search at his residence and said that the party had an impeccable track record. But the ignominy for party didn't end there.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP and actor, Mithun Chakraborty, was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate this week in connection with the Saradha case. Chakraborty was apparently the recipient of a large sum of money for being a brand ambassador of Saradha's media platform. The actor has sought a month's time to make a personal appearance before the ED.

Then came the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) order on Rose Valley. Sebi has asked Rose Valley Real Estates and Constructions to wind up all their investment schemes and its promoter/ directors have been restricted from accessing the securities markets till the collective investment schemes are wound up and the funds are repaid to the investors.

There may not be any ostensible link between Rose Valley and TMC, but party MP, Tapas Pal, is one of the brand ambassadors of the company.

Meanwhile CBI has got custody of Saradha's Sudipta Sen and party MP, Kunal Ghosh. Political observers believe that some bigger names with party links could crop up in the interrogation.