Saradha scam: CBI arrests Assamese singer

/New Delhi, Sept 12: Popular Assamese singer Sadananda Gogoi was arrested by CBI on Friday in connection with its probe in the

ponzi scheme case in which it brought under its scanner a leading lawyer from Odhisha with regards to its cases in the state. CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad said in Delhi that Gogoi has been arrested in Kolkata on the allegations of "conspiracy and misappropriation of funds" and he will be produced in Alipore court tomorrow.

Gogoi was summoned at its CGO complex office in Kolkata for the fourth time today and was arrested after interrogation, CBI sources said. Gogoi was allegedly acting as a conduit for Saradha Chairman-cum-Managing Director Sudipta Sen and lured influential people using his contacts, the sources said.

With this arrest, a total of 10 persons have been nabbed by the CBI in connection with the scam which includes six who were arrested by West Bengal Police and taken into custody by the agency. A prominent lawyer from Odisha is expected to be questioned by CBI soon, the sources said.

The agency has recently arrested former West Bengal DGP Rajat Majumdar for his alleged involvement in the scam. Majumdar, who had worked as Director General (Armed Police) in West Bengal, was allegedly associated with Saradha Group, which has been accused of duping thousands of investors of crores of rupees, they said.

The agency has also arrested East Bengal club official Debabrata Sarkar and businessman Sandhir Agarwal CBI has registered four FIRs against Saradha Group in the chit fund scam in West Bengal whereas 44 cases have been registered in Odisha.

The Supreme Court had handed over the Saradha chit fund scam probe to CBI and asked the state governments to provide all logistical help to the agency's team investigating the matter. CBI has formed a Special Investigating Team (SIT) headed by Joint Director Rajiv Singh also probe the role of some officials of Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and RBI, the sources said.

PTI