Saradha group chief sent to 14 days JC

Saradha Group chief Sudipta Sen, the prime accused in the multi-crore rupees ponzi scheme scam, was sent to 14 days judicial custody by a local court in connection with a case filed by a retired soldier.

Chief Judicial Magistrate, Darjeeling court, Utpal Mishra passed the order yesterday evening during which Sen was present in the court.

The case had been filed by retired army man Kubir Rai, a Darjeeling resident, in July 2013 against Saradha Group alleging that it had caused him huge financial loss.

Rai in his petition said he had invested Rs 1 lakh in fixed deposits in the company on the assurance of getting Rs 1.22 lakh on maturity after 15 months. He had invested another Rs 12,000 in monthly instalments of Rs 3,000 for four months for which he was promised to receive Rs 52,500 on maturity. However, the Saradha Group winded up in April 2013 and Rai incurred a huge loss.

Several other investors, who were duped by the company, had also lodged complaints but the police based their case against Sen on a single complaint and started investigations.

"The CID had filed a prayer for arresting Sen and the court allowed this in February 2014. It's been more than a year since we have been trying to produce him before the Darjeeling CJM, but could not as he has cases in several courts across the state," said Prasad.

The CJM court has directed the police to produce Sen again on April 2 for the next hearing.

CBI is investigating the Saradha ponzi scam case.