The CBI on Tuesday petitioned the Calcutta High Court seeking cancellation of former Bengal Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra’s bail in the multi-crore Sharada and other chit fund cases. A special court had last week granted bail to Mitra stating that there was no development in investigations since Mitra last applied for bail.
However the CBI in its petition to the High Court contended that the lower court judge had granted the bail without proper examination of the case diary. The investigating authority also said that contrary to the lower court’s observations there was considerable progress in investigations between May and August this year.
This apart the CBI also dwelt on its earlier argument that Mitra could influence the process of investigation if allowed to remain outside the judicial custody.
The former State Minister was arrested in December 2014 but was granted bail last year. However, the High Court soon cancelled the bail saying. Names of a host of Trinamool Congress leaders including MPs, Ministers and MlAs got involved in the chit funds case that affected about 19 lakh people who lost their savings.
When contacted Mitra said there was a lot of difference between what he used to be and what he was not. “The real influential person is God and we are only his servants. We are nothing in front of him. I am not an influential person but a common law abiding citizen. I respect the court of law, CBI and people. I will accept whatever decision the court gives” said Mitra.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool leaders maintained a studied silence in the case refusing even to express their solidarity in public with Mitra while the powerful Minister and once Man Friday of CM said “I am a lonely person today.”