Saradha Scam: TMC gets CBI notice, Mamata's paintings under scanner

In a first, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued a notice to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Party asking it to explain its income and expenditure in the past four years.

A two page notice signed by Phanibhushan Karan, the CBI's Assistant Superintendent of Police seeks to know about the TMC's income and expenditure that it had occurred in the past four years.

The main motive of the CBI is to find out if Saradha funds had funded the activities of the TMC.

If the CBI is able to ascertain that Saradha funds had reached the TMC's coffers then it would manage to establish a direct link between the party and the scam.

What is on the CBI's radar?

The notice seeks details of the party's income and expenditure between the years 2010 and 2014.

The sale of paintings, donations and also expenditure incurred while placing advertisements are all part of the CBI notice.

The CBI feels that money of Rs 6.5 crore that was earned through the sale of paintings had been diverted to the party fund.

There have been allegations that Sudipta Sen had purchased a painting from Mamata which had fetched a little of over Rs 1 crore.

Further the CBI is also probing the sale of books written by various TMC leaders which were sold and the proceeds used for the activities of the party.

The advertisements placed for Rs 1.7 crore are also under the scanner of the CBI. In addition to this the party has also received donations from various sources to the tune of around Rs 10.9 crore which the CBI also wants to probe.

Did Mukul Roy give out information?

The TMC feels that it was Mukul Roy during his questioning with the CBI who gave out information regarding the party.

The party has already begun distancing itself from Roy and has contemplated removing him too.

The CBI had first asked Mukul Roy for the details. However he replied via email to the CBI that he is no longer the party's secretary.

He had also said that the CBI should seek details of the expenditure from Subrata Bakshi who had succeeded him.

CBI officials tell Oneindia that they are probing the funds of the party in connection with the Saradha case. We have not come to any conclusion, but want to find out if the Saradha group had diverted funds into the TMC.

OneIndia News