The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday arrested Srikant Mohta, owner of one of the biggest producing companies in eastern India associated with a bevy of award winning films.
The noted film and tele-serial producer, on who rests a sizeable part of the Tollygunge film industry, was arrested in connection with Rose Valley chit fund case, CBI sources said adding he had allegedly fobbed jailed Rose Valley captain Gautam Kundu of Rs 25 crore.
Kundu had allegedly told CBI during interrogation that Mohta had taken Rs 25 crore from him for producing making a number of films which however would not see the light of the day.
“And when Kundu demanded his money back Mohta allegedly threatened him with closing his ponzi business with the help of some influential political person,” CBI sources said. The top businessman who also owns other businesses including malls is likely to be flown to Odisha where the case originates for production in Khurda district court, sources said.
Mohta who had earlier evaded appearance before the CBI on several occasions was on Thursday picked up from his plush South Kolkata office by a team of Agency officials, driven to the CGO complex and then arrested.
The CBI was also examining the veracity of complaints regarding his connection with the Sharada chit fund case.
Kundu was the chief of Rose Valley charged with swindling about Rs 28,000 crore whereas Sharada chit fund company — led by Sudipto Sen who is also in jail — is charged with cheating depositors of more than Rs 2,500 crore.
Srikant Mohta’s company — Shree Venkatesh Films — has produced a number of award-winning films, like Chokher Bali, Raincoat, Iti Mrinalini, Memories In March, Autograph, Baishey Shrabon and Hemlock Society casting a galaxy of top directors and actors from Mumbai film world.
Meanwhile, coming down heavily on the BJP Government for “victimising and arm-twisting people who do not fall in line with them,” senior Trinamool Congress leader and Minister Partho Chatterjee on Thursday said, “the BJP is known for such vindictive attitude. We have tolerated this for years. They cannot stand opposition. Those who do not fall in line with them are victimised like this. But one hopes law will take its own course and truth will be revealed.”