Saradha scam: Bankshall Court asks CBI to submit report

Bankshall Court on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a report stating the reason behind the delay in trial of the multi-crore Saradha Group scam.

On Tuesday, Saradha Group chief Sudipta Sen, his associate Debjani Mukherjee and suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh were produced before the court. 

Counsels of the trio have been submitted before the court that the investigating agency had given the chargesheet in connection with the case around two months ago. But they are still seeking more time for “further investigation” and the trial is getting delayed. 

When the court asked about the reason behind the delay, the CBI’s counsel said there was a need for some more time as the investigation in connection with the Saradha Tour and Travels case was going on. 

It may be mentioned that the CBI had submitted the chargesheet in this connection on October 22, 2014. There is a possibility that CBI may submit supplementary chargesheet in this connection. Anirban Guhathakurta, counsel of Debjani, said the CBI had sought for custodial trial and at the same time the trial was getting delayed as they were yet to complete their investigation. 

The court directed CBI to submit a report stating the reason behind the delay. The next hearing in this case is on December 29. 

Kunal Ghosh’s counsel said the suspended Ghosh would like to provide some information to the investigating agency. So some senior CBI officers should talk to him either in correctional home or after taking him to their office at CGO in Salt Lake. He also said the trial was to begin though the chargesheet was submitted in October 2014.

Meanhwile, the CBI officers would once again interrogate Sudipta Sen to verify the statement of Shankudeb Panda. CBI officers interrogated Shankudeb for the second time on Monday in connection with the scam. Sources said that he revealed names of some more “influential people” who were allegedly involved in the scam. Now CBI officers would verify his claims by questioning the Saradha Group chief.