After West Bengal consumer affairs minister Sadhan Pande publicly admitted that his department had alerted various central government entities and the state government about the financial anomalies of Saradha Group, sources said the Kolkata Police had also ignored several warnings from the Union ministry of corporate affairs.
It was learnt that the Union ministry had sent a letter to then Kolkata Police commissioner R. K. Pachnanda in October 2011 and again a reminder in March 2012, flagging up the activities of the Sudipta Senled Saradha Group and its serious violations.
Sources in the corporate affairs ministry claimed that no response was received from then Kolkata Police top cop in this regard. All the papers on Saradha were forwarded to the police commissioner but he never got back on the issue, which clearly indicates that the Trinamool Congress- led state government ignored warnings from the Centre.
When contacted, the former top cop chose to remain silent. Pachnanda was shunted from the post following the Garden Reach campus violence that killed a Kolkata Police constable in firing.
CPM leader Suryakanta Mishra said on Wednesday: “ It is clear the government has been shielding those directly involved in the scam. We have moved the President and the Prime Minister, requesting a CBI probe.”
He alleged that more Trinamool Congress leaders may be found involved in the scam if Sudipta speaks further.
Meanwhile, the state government’s own affidavit nailed chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s lie.
Didi had boastfully claimed on April 22 that the state administration was in the dark about the bogus schemes of the Saradha Group. An affidavit filed against a PIL seeking a CBI probe into Ponzi chit fund firms filed in the Calcutta High Court has put the ruling regime in a spotlight.
According to the affidavit, the state finance secretary had written to the home ministry on July 14, 2011, requesting for an early action in the matter. A reminder was sent on February 23, 2012, too. It further pointed out that in October 2012, the home secretary of the state government had informed the finance secretary on alleged malpractices by the chit funds operating in the state.
Mamata’s younger brother Kartik Banerjee had also triggered a controversy within the Trinamool’s fold, saying that everyone in the party was aware of the Saradha scam. He said: “ I had raised this issue almost a year ago, no one listened to me. I repeatedly told my leadership that these Ponzi firms would dupe poor people. But no one paid any heed because I was a minor member in the party.” Despite all the alerts, no action was taken by Didi’s administration.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate ( ED) on Wednesday sent a request to the Bidhannagar police for copies of the FIR and details of investigation till now. The ED also wrote to other central agencies such as SEBI, ROC etc, asking for details pertaining to the Saradha scam.
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