In a major embarrassment for the Trinamool Congress, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the larger conspiracy angle of the Saradha and other chit fund cases, on Friday, interrogated Partha Chatterjee, a comparatively less controversial face of the Bengal ruling outfit.
In a similar vein, CBI also questioned former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajiv Kumar in Rose Valley case.
Chatterjee, one of the senior-most leaders, a key aide of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and State Education Minister, was grilled for about four hours in connection to the Saradha chit fund case, sources said adding his name cropped up during the interrogation of TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and party general secretary Subrota Bakshi.
“Chatterjee's name surfaced up during the questioning of Mr O'Brien last week, sources said adding “we got his name in connection with alleged funding of the party's newspaper, Jago Bangla.” Chatterjee is the editor of the TMC mouthpiece and O’Brien is the publisher.
On the reason of him being questioned in the chit fund case Chatterjee said he had been called to not on individual capacity but to explain some organisational transactions between the Saradha group and the party as such.
CBI sources said Chatterjee’s statements were recorded and would be counter-checked adding “If need be he may be summoned later on.”
The CBI earlier turned down the request of Kumar who had earlier sought a month’s time for appearance.
The former CP, currently acting as the Additional Director General of CID, was questioned for more than three hours and was asked to explain his role in some transactions at Burdwan. He was questioned about his role in some land deal at Burdwan, inside sources said.
Meanwhile, Kumar on Friday got a judicial respite with the Calcutta High Court extending the order stopping his arrest till September 3. The Court had earlier directed him not to venture out of his official bungalow and to appear at the CBI office whenever asked to do so.
A major political storm kicked up last year when the Chief Minister personally descending on the streets in support of Kumar after CBI raided his bungalow.
