New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP and senior Trinamool Congress leader, Derek O'Brien was on Friday questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the Saradha chit fund case at the agency's offices in Bidhannagar.
Sources familiar with developments said that the TMC politician was questioned about certain payments that were received by his party's official newspaper, Jago Bangla.
It is alleged that O'Brien was operating the account of the Bengali weekly, where the payments were received.
The Rajaya Sabha MP was earlier asked by the probe agency to join the investigation into the Saradha chit fund case. However, O'Brien had asked for more time as parliament was in session.
Speaking to the Millennium Post, the sources added that the money paid into the newspaper's accounts had originated from proceeds of the sale that came through selling some paintings by the West Bengal Chief Minister.
Earlier, the CBI had examined Shibaji Panja, a businessman, in connection with the chit fund case, and it was alleged that he was the one who organised the exhibitions where paintings by the CM were sold.
Sources in the know had at the time said that several hit fund companies had purchased paintings from his exhibitions, including the Saradha Group.