New clues with CBI linking Trinamool and chit fund

The CBI investigating the multi-crore chit fund case has stumbled upon certain new clues that could link Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress and a number of phony companies through which the party earned several crores of rupees during elections.And in most cases these funds were earned by selling to these companies “pictures painted by a top politician” of the ruling party, said CBI sources.

The Agency had evidences of companies like Trinetra, Jagatjanani et al — with yearly turnover of less than a lakh of rupees — siphoning crores to Trinamool funds. But now the CBI has been able to find out “some other companies that had acted as a go-between.”According to sources a whopping `5 crore was first routed into the accounts of a real estate company which enjoyed patronage of a powerful State Minister.

The sleuths came to know about the powerful Minister after recently grilling a Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP. The Minister played an important role in getting the funds transferred from this real estate company to companies like Trinetra and Jagatjanai.From Trinetra the fund was then deposited as “credit” to Trinamool Congress’ account.

Curiously, investigations have revealed that the said company which had not traded beyond `1 lakh in one given year possessed “assets in paintings” worth more than Rs2.5 crore, sources said.In a parallel development, Enforcement Directorate which was also investigating the chit fund scam had reportedly come across “such important evidences” that ED Director R Katoch had to personally come down to Kolkata to hold a key meeting regarding the agency’s future course of action.

It has however been noted that none of the agencies have been able to interrogate the Trinetra officials as no FIR has yet been registered. Furthermore, the sources also said that the CA whose signature was forged by the Trinetra to file its balance sheet had also not come forward to register any FIR.Both the CBI and ED had deferred their dates of filing charge sheet in Saradha scam.

Meanwhile, sources said that jailed Saradha chief Sudipto Sen who had thus far remained tight-lipped had given the names of a number of powerful ruling party politicians to the ED. He had claimed in writing to the ED that these politicians had dealings with him on several occasions, sources said adding among those whose names have been divulged to the ED were a couple of Ministers, sources said.