Houses of Assam ex-ministers among 12 premises raided

“The CBI examined documents mainly related to advertisements that Saradha gave us, and took some documents along with some CDs from our office,” said NewsLive executive editor Paragmoni Aditya. The CBI officials remained tight-lipped, with one official saying a formal press note would be issued by its office in New Delhi.

Sarma, once the most trusted lieutenant of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who later turned out to be his bête noire, was dropped in July after he revolted and demanded ouster of the Chief Minister.

While singer and filmmaker Sadananda Gogoi is said to be close to Sarma, former Assam DGP Shankar Barua is close to Gogoi. The CBI Thursday also conducted raids on two premises in Dhubri in western Assam where Saradha had set up a biscuit factory in 2010. The biscuit factory called Bhashank Foods (P) Ltd was inaugurated by the then health minister Sarma.

Another prominent Congress leader, present legislator and former transport minister in the first Gogoi government (2001-2006), Anjan Dutta also came under the CBI scanner with the agency raiding his residence here Thursday. Dutta, who owns a daily Assamese newspaper called Ajir Dainik Batori, had tied up with Saradha to run his newspaper for some time

“Nobody should be allowed to go scot-free in connection with Saradha and other chit fund scams. Those found guilty must be punished,” the CM said. He also claimed that it was his government that first sought a CBI investigation into the chit fund scams.

However, Gogoi was not sure under which particular case were the CBI raids conducted. “I don’t know. It could be in the Bengal case which is being investigated under orders of the Supreme Court,” Gogoi said.

Aide grilled, CBI lens on Madan Mitra

By: Madhuparna Das

Kolkata: Bengal Transport minister Madan Mitra is under the CBI scanner with one of his associates having been picked up from his residence and taken to the agency’s office for interrogation in connection with the Saradha scam Thursday.

Before picking Bapi Karim from his residence at Mominpur in south Kolkata, a CBI team conducted a raid at his residence that lasted several hours. Several incriminating documents were found during the raids.

Mitra, a key minister in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet, is at present admitted in a private nursing home in south Kolkata. When contacted, Mitra told The Indian Express, “I have heard about this development. CBI has conducted a search operation at Bapi’s residence. It is but obvious that they will inquire about me also… I have no links with the Saradha.”