ED sniffs link between ponzi group and SRK’s IPl team
Probing the multi-crore ponzi fund scams, the Enforcement Directorate have reportedly sniffed a link between alleged chit fund companies and Kolkata Knight Rider, an IPl team owned by film star Shah Rukh Khan.
According to sources, the ED was going to send summons to some top officials of the KKR to explain an alleged funding of around Rs 12 crore by the ponzi group Rose Valley. The club bosses could be questioned after the Durga Pujas sources said.
Incidentally, Shah Rukh Khan is also the “brand ambassador” of Bengal and enjoys close chemistry with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee whose party’s name has repeatedly come up in the multi-crore chit fund scam in the State.
Alongside investigating the Saradha scam, ED has also been looking into the ponzi cobweb of other companies, including the Rose Valley Group. It has recently blocked more than 200 bank accounts belonging to the company.
Sources in the ED said that it had been found out the Rose Valley Group had given a sponsorship of about Rs 12 crore to the KKR. The Rose Valley accountants, who were questioned by the ED, failed to mention the sources from where this fund was paid.
Apart from this, sources also said that some foreign players had done an ad film for the Rose Valley resorts for which additional amounts were paid “perhaps in cash”. The ED was also trying to know the amount paid through cash and locate the sources of this amount, insiders said.
Meanwhile, hours after Jayalalithaa was sent to jail in a DA case, the Bengal Opposition groups had started speculating on the fate of what they called “Bangalalithaa” — a latest appellation for the Chief Minister. Banga means Bengal and lalithaa means daughter. “We are waiting to see what happens to our Bangalalithaa,” BJP State president Rahul Sinha said, adding he was sure that long arms of law will catch up with Banerjee shortly.
“All the witnesses and accused, including Kunal Ghosh and Arvind Chauhan, have repeatedly pointed the finger at her. She is bound to go to jail for her links with the Saradha scam,” CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakrabarty said.
Meanwhile, the condition of State Transport Minister Madan Mitra was stated to be stable more than 24 hours after he was admitted to a South Kolkata hospital with “panic attack.” Mitra’s name have repeatedly occurred in the Saradha scam. He is alleged to be one of the top 7-8 leaders to have benefitted the most from his association with jailed Saradha chief Sudipto Sen.
His two close confidants, including a one-time PA Bapi Karim, have already been grilled by the CBI. He is known to have divulged enough details to the agency, which reportedly gave Mitra “panic attack” sources said. When asked as to when or whether Mitra would be summoned by the CBI, insiders said, “Everyone who is responsible and has links will be summoned.”