Madan Mitra says he has gone from being Bahubali to Bajrangbali

After languishing in jail for more than a year, multi-crore Saradha Group chit-fund scam accused Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra claims to have turned 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' now. Over the past one year as he remained behind bars, the influential Trinamool leader, who was West Bengal's sports and transport minister, underwent a series of role changes.

"Agey ami chilam prabhabshali, tar por holam bahubali and ekhon ami Bajrangbali (earlier I was an influential leader, then I became a muscle man and now I am Bajrangbali)," Mitra said while being produced at a city court on Thursday.

The leader who was known to throw his weight and power around, claimed to have become a humble person like Pavan, aka Bajrangi Bhaijaan, a role played by superstar Salman Khan in the movie of the same name.

Mitra's statement came in the wake of the city court extending his judicial custody by another 14 days to January 28. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sougata Roy Chowdhury passed the order after Mitra's counsel did not press for bail. Mitra's counsel also requested the court to treat him as a division-I prisoner and provide him with all necessary medical assistance as he is suffering from various ailments.

Mitra was arrested by CBI officials in the Saradha scam on December 12, 2014, on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and misappropriation of funds. The influential West Bengal minister was also charged with deriving undue financial advantages from the Saradha Group.

The CBI had been opposing Mitra's bail plea repeatedly citing that he may influence the probe if he gets bail. When asked if he has any interest in contesting the upcoming 2016 assembly elections, Mitra told reporters: "It has to be decided by my party. Whatever decision they take I will abide by that."

When questioned about his son Swarup Mitra's nomination from the Kamarhati Assembly constituency, he said that there was no question of his son contesting the polls this year.

Also Read:

Saradha scam: High Court cancels Madan Mitra's bail

Mitra quits as CBI seeks cancellation of his bail