Saradha scam: ED grills painter Shuvaprasanna

Kolkata, March 23: The ED, probing the money trail in the multi-crore-rupee Saradha scam, grilled painter Shuvaprasanna Bhattacharya on Monday concerning a business deal he made with Saradha Group chief and now jailed scam kingpin Sudipta Sen.

Perceived to be close to West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress leadership, Bhattacharya appeared before the agency during the day.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has already questioned the painter twice before regarding the sale of Devkripa Vyapar Pvt. Ltd, the holding company of Akhon Samay, a news channel.

Despite the channel never going on air, Bhattacharya is alleged to have sold it to Sen at an inflated price in 2011.

Bhattacharya, who earlier had submitted documents about the deal to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) -- which too is probing the scam, has repeatedly denied the charges.

The ED had summoned both Bhattacharya and a city businessman and Indian Super League franchise Atletico de Kolkata co-owner Harsh Neotia, earlier. Neotia is slated to appear before the agency March 27.

The duo was interrogated by the agency Oct 13 last year.

IANS