Madan Mitra to remain in ITU till April 1: HC

KOLKATA: State transport minister Madan Mitra, who was arrested by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore Saradha scam will remain in the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) of SSKM Hospital till April 1 when his bail plea comes up for hearing once again, Calcutta high court directed on Tuesday. The matter pertaining to former Trinamool Congress MP and businessman Srinjoy Bose will also come up for hearing on that date.
During the day, Mitra's counsel submitted in the high court that they are yet to receive copies of the supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI against their client. They also haven't received a copy of the statement made by Mitra before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC, it was submitted. Without these copies, defending Mitra is getting difficult, the lawyers said.
In response to this, the CBI's counsel submitted that copies of the supplementary chargesheet and statement would be made available to the defence lawyers on March 27 when Mitra's matter comes up for hearing again before the trial court. This is when the court set the next date of hearing for April 1. The court also paid heed to a prayer by Mitra's sons regarding his health. His lawyers submitted that Mitra's sons want their father to remain in the ITU as he is not well. The court then directed that Mitra be kept in the ITU till April 1.