KOLKATA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has claimed that many more names of influential leaders are embedded in the sentences of the raw footages of the unpublished Narada tapes. The agency, busy in transcription of Bengali and Hindi sentences into English, says that several new names have emerged from the unpublished tapes handed over by Narada TV CEO Matthew Samuel to the central agency.
According to sources, nicknames and codenames used in inner circles have been used in the footages which the CBI sleuths are trying to decode to zero in on the right persons. A source said that Matthew Samuel, who was ignorant of the local nicknames and code names, may have overlooked the connections. A total of 12 Trinamool ministers and leaders have been caught accepting money on camera in the published footage of Narada sting.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has ordered to auction off the assets of Alchemist Capital, the second biggest firm of Alchemist Group, owned by Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP K D Singh, to repay the investors who have allegedly been duped. The responsibility to identify the assets, seize and then auction them has been given to Director of Economic Offence (DEO) wing of the state government.
The special cell has initiated a case against Alchemist Capital under Protection of Interest of Depositor’s Act, which was enacted after the massive Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund scams. The special cell may soon summon K D Singh and his son for interrogation. It has powers to arrest the director and top officials of chit fund firms involved. Along with Alchemist, action will also be taken against seven more firms.
Narada TV CEO Matthew Samuel had recently claimed that Trinamool MP K D Singh had funded the sting operation. Since then, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also regretted her decision to nominate the Alchemist owner to the Rajya Sabha. The West Bengal Secretariat’s direction to auction Alchemist Capital properties comes closely after the Samuel’s allegation.
Sources revealed that the DEO wing has already estimated the amount Alchemist Capital gathered from the market. The list of investors has also been prepared. It has come to light that some chit fund money has also been invested elsewhere, which is why a list of personal assets of the owners of the chit fund firms is also being made. According to sources, the state government may seize personal property if chit fund money is not secured from the market.