On a day the Supreme Court directed a CBI probe into the Saradha ponzi scheme scam in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her government was “out of the process,” adding the central agency “should now take the responsibility” to return the money to all investors.
“Two days ahead of polls [in the State], a CBI probe has been ordered. Why should we be bothered? We are out of the process. However, we wanted to return money to the investors...we do not have any responsibility to return the money,” Ms. Banerjee said at a rally in Berhampore on Friday.
She said her government had appointed an enquiry commission and ensured return of money to four lakh depositors duped by the company.
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“It is no more my responsibility. Now the CBI should return the money to all investors. If that does not happen, the affected people will go to the houses of those who have indulged in a false campaign and spread canards against it [state government]. I will wait for that day,” she said.
The Trinamool government has been opposing a CBI probe even as allegations were being made that certain leaders of the ruling party were involved in the scam.
“If you ask me, why did not you want [CBI probe], I will tell you, why should I? It is my State, if I am to do a job, why should I engage others?” the Chief Minister said, lauding the efforts of the Special Investigation Team, appointed by the State government. “Investigation was going well. Everybody appreciated [SIT probe],” said Ms. Banerjee.
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She claimed that it was her government that had arrested the culprits and the police filed charge sheets in 286 cases. But the central agencies, which were responsible for keeping a check on the financial organisation, had closed their eyes to the happenings, she alleged.
Though her government had passed a law to rein in unregulated financial institutions the Centre was yet to give consent to it.