Seven days' judicial remand for Saradha accused Kunal Ghosh

Kolkata, Sept 12: A city court today remanded suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh to seven days' judicial custody after he dramatically recused his lawyer from speaking for him and then pleaded for either bail or CBI custody to 'assist' the agency in its Saradha chit fund scam probe.

Metropolitan magistrate Arvind Mishra rejected his prayers and remanded Ghosh to judicial custody till September 18, as sought by CBI. On being produced before the judge, Ghosh said he wanted to say something before the court.

But the court did not allow it and said as he had given his lawyer the authority to speak for him, he could not make any submission unless he withdrew the power given to his counsel. Ghosh immediately wrote on a piece of paper that he was withdrawing the power given to his lawyer.

The judge also directed Ghosh not to speak anything outside the case. Ghosh had created a flutter on Saturday when he stated in the court that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee be interviewed by CBI along with Saradha Group chairman Sudipta Sen and himself.

Ghosh told the court today that other chit fund companies be also probed along with Saradha by CBI and that those involved in these should also be arrested. Taking out a piece of paper, Ghosh said some chit fund companies were still collecting money from the public.

He claimed that chit fund companies were also sponsoring an event of which former Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee was the chairman. Chatterjee is now Higher Education Minister.

When Ghosh wanted to submit the piece of paper he claimed to have got in the court lockup from a person but did not name him, the judge refused to accept the paper.

The judge also asked him not to make any statement regarding anything other than his own case. Ghosh was asked by the court to make a statement before the Investigating Officer of CBI if he wanted to give any additional information other than what he has already provided to the investigating agency.

Claiming that he has been in custody for nearly 10 months since November 23 last when he was arrested by the state police, Ghosh submitted he be granted bail. He claimed he was not involved in any conspiracy or illegal monetary transaction involving Bengal Media, an arm of Saradha Group, of which he was the CEO.

Ghosh prayed he be granted bail or sent to CBI custody again, claimingt that by being in the agency's custody he could 'assist' it in the investigation if needed but he should not be sent to judicial custody.

The CBI counsel submitted that a huge amount of money had been transferred by Saradha chit fund companies to Bengal Media Ltd after misappropriating public money. Stating that documents related to this has been collected after interrogation of Ghosh, the CBI counsel prayed for his judicial custody. After hearing both the parties, the judge granted seven days' judicial custody of Ghosh.

PTI