Will resign if allegations are proved, says Bengal Minister

‘My son was not involved with any Ponzi company’

: West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra, who is currently admitted to hospital, said on Sunday that if allegations against him and his family members of taking benefits from Ponzi scheme companies can be proved, he would tender his resignation as minister.

Mr. Mitra rubbished allegations about his son Swarup Mitra’s involvement with a Ponzi scheme company. “My son Swarup is not involved with either Icore Group or any other ponzi scheme company in the country. The allegation is nothing but a malicious campaign,” he said. He also denied any involvement in the Saradha Ponzi scheme.

Mr. Mitra cited his “illness” for being unable to turn up for interrogation by the CBI and said that he will appear for it in a few days. “I will face the CBI’s questioning in the next few days as they have summoned me…I am hoping to recover in a couple of days,” Mr. Mitra said. According to media reports, Swarup was allegedly involved with the Icore Group, reportedly involved in running Ponzi schemes.

Mr. Mitra, recently summoned by the CBI in connection with the Saradha scam, was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the city. Interestingly, soon after being summoned, he left the private hospital and got admitted to SSKM Hospital.

The CBI’s summon to Mr. Mitra comes in the backdrop of the fact as he was not only seen in several events of the Saradha Group but had publicly praised its owner Sudipta Sen.

This comes days after AITC MP Srinjoy Bose’s arrest by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the Saradha scam that rattled the party.

The AITC has already faced major embarrassment as the CBI has also questioned State’s Textile Minister Shyamapada Mukherjee who had sold a cement company to the Saradha Group.