West Bengal Transport Minister, Madan Mitra, has been remanded in CBI custody till December 16, a CBI spokesperson said.
Mitra was arrested by the Central agency on Friday in connection with the multi-crore Saradha scam. Along with Mitra, Naresh Balodia – who too was arrested on Friday – has been remanded in custody till December 16. Balodia was the legal advisor to Saradha group chairman Sudipta Sen and the group companies.
Mitra and Balodia have been charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating and misappropriation. Mitra, however, has also been charged with ‘deriving undue financial benefits’ from the group.
Angry Trinamool supporters demonstrated outside the court premises protesting the arrest of the minister.
Some of the Trinamool-back transport unions were asked not to ply vehicles and attend a protest rally instead, sources said. Mitra found support from the West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo, Mamata Banerjee.
CM’s support The Chief Minister took to the streets on Saturday afternoon and participated in a protest rally.
Expressing solidarity with the minister, Banerjee said: “I will not believe that Madan is a thief or is at fault. He does not need to take money from Saradha Group to feed his family. These are lies and are being spread deliberately to malign him and our party.”
Her anger was directed towards the CBI and its “high handedness”. The Chief Minister alleged that the agency had lost its credibility and was acting at the behest of the BJP.