KOLKATA: Actor-turned-Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) here on Friday after discrepancies were found in his statement during four-hour investigation into his involvement in the Rs 17,000-crore ponzi Rose Valley chit fund scam that caused suicides of several investors.
The Bengali actor, who gained infamy over his threats to send his 'boys' to rape opposition women party workers, was the director of the film division of Rose Valley.
Sources revealed that Pal evaded questions about his financial dealings with Rose Valley in 2011-12. Evidence was also found about Pal's financial dealing with Rose Valley CMD Gautam Kundu, for whom Pal was linked to Bengali film industry Tollywood. He also could not answer how despite being director of film division of the firm, he was unaware of the ponzi scam?
CBI's investigation into Saradha and Rose Valley ponzi scams have gathered pace after Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's heightened opposition to demonetisation. Summons were also sent to another Trinamool MP Sudip Bandopadhyay with regard to the Rose Valley ponzi scheme.
The pace in CBI inquiry after opposition to demonetisation is seen by many political analysts as Centre's way of responding to Trinamool Congress's opposition to demonetisation.