The Special CJM Court allowed the CBI to take TMC MP Sudip Bandyopa-dhyay on a six-day remand for interrogation for his alleged complicity in the Rose Valley Group chit fund scam. CBI pleaded for 12-day custody.
Bandyopadhyay will be questioned face-to-face with another TMC MP Tapas Paul, who was arrested last week and is on a fresh three-day CBI remand from Tuesday.
TMC members in Bhubaneswar staged a protest demonstration in front of the CBI regional office here under the leadership of Ramnagar MlA (West Bengal) Akhil Giri. “Both Tapas Paul and Sudip Bandyopadhyay are innocent. They have been arrested by the CBI under the influence of the BJP. This is a conspiracy by the BJP to eliminate the TMC. We are here to support our leaders,” Giri said.
He said the TMC would organise a mega rally in Bhubaneswar on January 10 as part of its protest against the “illegal” arrests.
Bandyopadhyay’s counsel Rajiv Majumdar said his clients was arrested due to vindictive politics. “The CBI should first prove that Sudip has received money from the Rose Valley Group,” the lawyer demanded.
Bandyopadhyay, who is the TMC leader in the lok Sabha, was brought to Bhubaneswar around1 am on Wednesday after being arrested in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, Odisha BJP MlA Pradeep Purohit alleged that some leaders of the State’s ruling BJD have links with the arrested TMC MPs. He further alleged that some Ministers from Odisha had gone to West Bengal during the Odisha Day celebration and enjoyed the hospitality of the tainted chit fund company and TMC leaders.
These BJD leaders must be brought under the purview of the probe, demanded Purohit.
Meanwhile, PCC president Prasad Harichandan said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should be arrested on basis of the charges made by Seashore Group chief Prashant Dash.
“On the basis of a contention made by Tapas Paul, the CBI arrested Sudip Bandyopadhyay. Then, why is it silent on Naveen Patnaik. The CBI should arrest Patnaik on the basis of the charges levelled by Prashant Dash,” said Harichandan at the Jatni Chetana Samabesh.