Saradha Scam: Madan Mitra taken to prison after surrender

Kolkata, Nov 20: Saradha chit fund scam accused and former West Bengal minister Madan Mitra was taken to the Alipore Correctional Home late on Thursday after he surrendered before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, in compliance with a Calcutta High Court order cancelling his bail earlier in the day.

Mitra, who reached the ACJM court soon to surrender after the high court division bench of Justices Nishita Mhatre and Tapash Mookherjee allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) plea for cancellation of the bail, was forced to wait for over seven hours till the copy of the HC order reached the lower court judge.

The ACJM went through the HC order at such a late hour and allowed Mitra to surrender and directed that he be taken to the correctional home -- as jails are called in the eastern state.

The ACJM, however, allowed a petition moved by Mitra's lawyers that he be provided medical assistance and given the status of group one prisoner.

"We have filed a surrender petition in the court of learned ACJM. He has allowed our petition for medical assistance. And as per our prayer, he has been allowed the status of A1 class prisoner," said Mitra's counsel Baisanor Chatterjee.

He would again be presented before the ACJM on December 3.

Mitra was arrested on December 12 last by the Central Bureau of Investigation on charges of cheating, conspiracy and criminal breach of trust in connection with the multi-crore financial scandal that came to light in April 2013.

After nearly 11 months, Mitra was granted bail on October 31 by a lower court.

The CBI moved an appeal at the Calcutta High Court seeking cancellation of the bail, and a vacation bench placed the then minister under house confinement till disposal of the case.

On Wednesday, the CBI moved the petition, and hours later Mitra quit his ministerial post.

IANS