Jailed Trinamool MP Kunal Ghosh on Tuesday dropped yet another bombshell implicating the top Trinamool Congress leadership including Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a host of her confidants in the ponzi case.
In what appeared to be a pre-recorded video appearing on Bangla news channel 24 Ghanta, the journalist-turned-Trinamool parliamentarian said top leaders including “Mamata Banerjee cannot shirk their responsibilities” insofar as the Saradha chit fund muddle was concerned. In a guarded language, Ghosh said, “I love her (Chief Minister), respect her but I want to ask as to why the Chief Minister or the Finance Minister did not inform those working with the Saradha media even after they were informed by the Government of India about the irregularities in the company.”
Alleging that the top Trinamool leadership knew about the shady deals of the company, Ghosh wondered as to “why we were not alerted or Sudipto Sen summoned and warned” against harming the interests of the people of Bengal!
Informing that a whole lot of leaders in the Trinamool Congress were benefited by the Saradha media group, Ghosh recalled how the Chief Minister had held meetings with Sen at a bungalow in North Bengal.
“She had met Sudipto Sen and Gautam Kundu, the chief of Rose valley group, at Dello bungalow at Kalimpong. The meeting was attended among others by the then Tourism Secretary,” he said. “I can tell only about what transpired during when I was present.” Sen reportedly told the Chief Minister that he would “use my resources for setting up media houses all over the country in Urdu, Bengali, Hindi, English and other languages” and help the Chief Minister become the Prime Minister.
Sen promised to respond adequately through his media network to cater to Banerjee’s prime ministerial ambitions, Ghosh said quoting the jailed Saradha chief. Ghosh alleged how “the entire network of Sudipto Sen was used to serve the interests of the party” and “not a leaf moved at Saradha media houses without the instructions” from the political bosses.
Ghosh also said a number of Durga Pujas patronised by political barons were funded by Sen often at the request of the Chief Minister. “lakhs of rupees were paid by Sen to these clubs,” he said. Implicating other Trinamool leaders like Samir Chakrabarty, the husband of Salt lake Mayor Krishna Chakrabarty, a close confidant of the Chief Minister, for his Dubai links, Ghosh said “investigation should be carried out to probe Dubai angle also as I cannot say much about that.”
Insisting once again that “I am being made a scapegoat”, Ghosh said that “those who can help in investigation about Saradha funds are Matang Singh, Rajat Majumdar, a former IPS officer, Mukul Roy, Samir Chakrabarty and others as they have a huge network.” The jailed MP also named his Tamluk counterpart Subhendu Adhikary for his alleged association with the Saradha chief. “The whole investigation is being scripted by to save the real big fishes and make me a scapegoat for the one big sin I committed by working for the Saradha media house.
Among others who were named by Ghosh were senior leader Mukul Roy, MP Srinjay Bose, State Minister Madan Mitra. Meanwhile, Sen who was taken to the court on Tuesday told the media there that “whatever Mr Ghosh is telling has no basis” and that “the names he is taking have no relation with my business.” He added, “My properties can be sold out to pay off the depositors.”