Bengal Minister leads protest against CBI

“Attempts are being made by the CBI to deflect the direction of Saradha probe”

KOLKATA: Led by State Law Minister and president of the Mahila Trinamol Congress, Trinamool Congress's women workers staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the Central Bureau of Investigation office in Kolkata on Thursday to protest against the ongoing CBI probe into the multi-crore Saradha scam. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish. 11.09.2014

Feeling the heat of the ongoing investigation in Saradha scam, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) held protests on Thursday outside the office of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in city’s Salt Lake area.

The protests were led by Minister for Law and Judicial Affairs Chandrima Bhattacharya who heads the women’s wing of the party. Hundreds of women sat in front of the CBI office, holding placards and shouting slogans against the Central investigating agency.

Among those protesting was also Krishna Bhattacharya, the chairperson of the Bidhannagar Municipality, whose husband Samir Bhattacharya was questioned by the CBI a day before.

“Attempts are being made by the CBI to deflect the direction of investigation in the Saradha scam. It is acting at the behest of the BJP and for the advantage of Modi Government,” Ms Bhattacharya, who is also Minister of State for Health, told journalists.

She said that despite claims of being an independent investigating agency the Supreme Court had said that the CBI was working as parrot of the ruling party.

The Opposition parties criticized the move by the AITC stating that the Law Minister cannot indulge in such protests against Central investigation agency.

Congress leader Anurava Ghosh said that the Law Minister protesting against CBI makes it a fit case for President’s rule in the State. BJP leader Siddhartha Nath Singh took a swipe saying that since AITC leaders are falling ill after being questioned by the CBI it is necessary that the Health Minister should be there.

Ex-DGP in CBI custody

Meanwhile, Rajat Majumdar, the former DGP, who was arrested by the CBI on Tuesday was discharged from a State-run hospital and produced before a city court. He was remanded in CBI custody till September 16.

Much to the embarrassment of the Trinamool Congress, Mr Majumdar said in the court-room that the CBI can keep him in the custody for 70 days instead of seven but they cannot force him to accept that he took money from Saradha CMD Sudipta Sen and gave it to party general secretary Mukul Roy or chairperson Mamata Banerjee.

Mr Majumdar who worked as the security advisor for Saradha group has maintained close links with Trinamool Congress.

Earlier, suspended Trinamool MP Kumal Ghosh said in the courtroom that he along with Mr Sen should be quizzed by the CBI in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.