Arrested Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh was on Sunday remanded in police custody till Thursday (November 28). Ghosh was arrested on Saturday in connection with the Saradha Scam.

Charges levelled against Ghosh – former CEO of the now defunct Saradha Group’s media arm – include cheating, criminal breach of trust and conspiracy, under Sections 420, 406 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code. His arrest was made in connection with a complaint filed by the general manager of a company, Broadcast Worldwide.

Ghosh was presented at the Bidhannagar Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court amidst tight security. He will again be presented before the Court on November 29.

Accused of swindling crores through money collection schemes, the Saradha Group went bust earlier this year. Its owner Sudipta Sen is already in police custody.

While the Rajya Sabha Member’s plea for bail was turned down, the police had asked for seven days’ custody to aid their investigation, his lawyer told reporters outside the Court.

According to his lawyer, allegations levelled include failure to submit TDS certificates of his employees. Ghosh tried to say something to the judge but was disallowed.

Earlier in the day, Bidhannagar Police carried out a raid at the MP’s North Kolkata residence.

Ghosh was also brought along with the raid party. Sources said the police seized a hard disk of a computer. The raid continued for over an hour.

Complaint

Meanwhile, Ghosh before his arrest last night, had filed an FIR against the Deputy Commissioner of Detective Department (DCDD) of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, Arnab Ghosh, alleging coercion.

He had alleged that the police officer had asked him to reply to questions, which were beyond his comprehension, or face arrest.

Arnab Ghosh, during his press conference late Saturday evening, had claimed that he was willing to “face the consequences” if found guilty.

> abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in

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