Saradha scam: Mukul meets CM; seeks more time from CBI citing bypoll

KOLKATA: Mukul Roy, the No 2 in Trinamool hierarchy as of now, has made himself conspicuous in party ranks by admitting that he met Saradha boss Sudipta Sen at Delo, Kalimpong. But the fear of what he left unsaid has left party colleagues even more shaky.
On his return from New Delhi on Wednesday, Mukul wasted no time in calling on party supremo Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna in a bid to renew her confidence.On his way in, he was all business-like and told reporters: “I will get in touch with CBI in due time after having consultations with my party. I will announce the date and time of my going to the CBI office.” However, while coming out of the CM’s chamber 30 minutes later, Mukul had a grim look and did not respond to the media.
The Trinamool MP has written to CBI to allow him a fortnight’s time, saying that he is among the chief party functionaries and his presence is needed for the two upcoming bypolls in Bongaon and Krishnaganj. CBI allowed him a week to make himself available for questioning. What’s significant, many Trinamool seniors had no clue of Mukul’s move to seek time.
State BJP president Rahul Sinha added to Mukul’s unease by saying that the Trinamool national secretary had met some BJP leaders in Delhi, fuelling speculation that he may be trying to earn BJP’s confidence.
Also, Roy’s Delo admission has made the Trinamool family susceptible to BJP attacks. A sizeable section in Trinamool has now started working for a scenario minus Mukul. They cannot understand why the party’s master strategist suddenly admitted to meeting Sudipta when suspended Trinamool MP Kunal Ghosh had written to the CBI that chief minister Mamata Banerjee was also present at the Delo meeting.
Whatever the truth, the confusion has rattled Trinamool leaders. According to party insiders, Mamata is not taking any chances. Her government may bring forward the civic polls — including that of Kolkata Municipal Corporation — although it had planned to hold the elections towards March-end before the situation deteriorates any further. Mamata has called an urgent meeting of the civic heads of Trinamool-run municipalities on Friday possibly to carve out the election strategy. Trinamool ranks have their eyes on the meeting to see if Mukul takes the lead in it.
While the political cauldron simmers, Mukul realizes that he has to prepare for the CBI questioning on the Delo meeting and also about his alleged role in the change of ownership of Saradha Group newspapers Azad Hind and Kalom. An Azad Hind employee told central investigators that Mukul’s close aide Asif Khan claimed ownership soon after Sudipta left. At this juncture a Trinamool leader called up to say that the paper should not be handed over to Asif, says the statement. Sudipta had earlier told ED that Roy asked him at the Nizam Palace meeting to sign a no-objection letter on the transfer of ownership of Azad Hind and Kalom to Asif Khan and Ahmed Hassan Imran. Sudipta said he was not paid anything after he signed the letter. The very next day, Sudipta says, Trinamool leader Rajat Majumdar came to his Midland Park office with a bank draft of Rs 15,000 but he refused to accept it. CBI officers will interrogate Rajat, who is now in jail, before they question Mukul Roy, say sources.
There is confusion over the money involved in the newspaper deals. Varying figures have cropped up, leaving questions if a large amount Rs 20 crore debited from the Saradha Group accounts was parked elsewhere for the benefit of politicians. A photograph at Kalom office showing Mukul Roy and his son Subhrangshu soon after the handover has also drawn the attention of central agencies.