Kolkata : With the CBI summoning West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra and Trinamool Congress MP Srinjoy Bose, the opposition BJP and the Congress Wednesday said more names from the ruling party would be interrogated in the multi-crore-rupee Saradha scam.
The summons to both the Trinamool leaders comes days after the central probe agency submitted its second charge sheet in the scam and a failed suicide bid by suspended Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Kunal Ghosh, who is behind bars.
Admitting that he has received summons from the CBI, Mitra currently undergoing treatment in a city hospital said that he will appear before the agency in accordance to his doctors’ advice.
“I am currently undergoing treatment. When I recover and the doctors advise, I will appear before the CBI and extend all cooperation,” Mitra told mediapersons at the hospital.
Rajya Sabha member Bose, who was earlier once interrogated by the CBI, said he will be appearing before the agency as a witness.
Reacting to Mitra’s summoning, state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said it was only the tip of the iceberg.
“As of now only the tip of iceberg has been visible. But the good things is the CBI has been doing their job and the days are not far when the entire the Trinamool will be have been questioned by the CBI for their involvement in the Saradha scam,” said Chowdhury.
State BJP president Rahul Sinha too echoed Chowdhury views and ridiculed Trinamool supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who has asserted to resign if links to Saradha are proved.
“It is ridiculous to say she will resign if Saradha links are proved. By saying this she is playing to the gallery, because if the links are proved her chair will automatically go, no one will give her the opportunity to resign,” said Sinha.
“Her party’s links to Saradha have already been proved and very soon many more names from her party will come out,” added Sinha.
Several Trinamool leaders have been arrested and interrogated by the CBI in connection with the scam.
The Trinamool, on the other hand, defended Mitra claiming summoning by the CBI did not tantamount to being guilty.
“CBI can summon anyone they like. But if someone is summoned by CBI it doesn’t prove him guilty,” Trinamool leader and Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee said while asserting there were efforts to malign the ruling party by some quarters.