KOLKATA: Saradha chief Sudipto Sen,who is currently in jail in connection with the multi-crore chit fund scam, has told a Bengali TV channel that property worth thousands of crores rupees belonging to Saradha group might be usurped by the “party of loots” unless the ED took ther initiative to attach them.
After Sen expressed his apprehensions, Opposition parties said that Sen was hinting at the ruling Trinamool Congress(TMC) as several of its leaders, including MPs and a state minister, have been arrested by the CBI in connection with the Saradha scam.
The telephonic interview from Alipore Central Jail, where Sen is currently lodged, was repeatedly telecast by ABP Ananda since Friday night leading to a flutter within the state government on Saturday as questions were being asked on how he could access a mobile phone in jail.
“Please push the ED, following which the Centre might intervene. Then all will get back their original deposits. Otherwise, several Saradha properties, which were not registered and only agreements had been drawn, might be usurped by the party of loots,” Sen said during the interview.
The Saradha chief, who was arrested from Sonemarg in Kashmir in April 2013, described his interview as a “declaration by a man who had come face to face with death”.
He alleged that many Saradha employees, who drew lakhs of rupees as salaries, had never cautioned him that he was indulging in wrongdoings. Sen described his staff as recipients of “proceeds of crime” and that they “cleverly escaped” after all.
Sen said, “It’s the same blueprint. Sahara mobilised `2 lakh thousand crores. How much did Alchemist collect from the public? What about Rosevalley? Same plan, same men only like changing clothes, they changed names.”
CPM leader Suryakanta Mishra said, “We had in writing informed the Prime Minister that Saradha Group properties were being looted by the ruling party leaders. Unless the probe is expedited, more opportunities will be available for the TMC to usurp the properties.”