Saradha scam: TMC to keep tab on CBI to ascertain BJP's role

Kolkata, Sept 7: Suspicious about the role of BJP behind the CBI probe into the Saradha Ponzi scam, the Trinamool Congress on Sunday said they are keeping a close watch on every move of the agency to ascertain if the ruling party at the Centre had any influence in it.

"We are keeping a close watch on each and every movement by the CBI regarding its probe in the multi-crore Saradha scam to see if the ruling BJP at the Centre is playing any behind-the-scene politics. We shall not make any comment or specific complaint right now," Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay told reporters.

"There should not be any politics on CBI. It should be allowed to work impartially without any political pressure. The Prime Minister should ensure that the CBI is not a pawn in the hands of the party in power at the Centre," he said.

"Let the CBI complete its probe and file charge sheet without any influence or political pressure," Bandyopadhyay said.

"This is more important particularly when allegations by suspended party MP Kunal Ghosh involving the TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in the multi-crore scam came up at a time when the BJP party president Amit Shah is visiting the state," he said.

"After the Assembly by-elections are over, all 45 TMC MPs (except Kunal Ghosh) in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha together will give a deputation to the Prime Minister demanding CBI's impartial role in the probe.

"If the BJP-led government at the Centre is involved in any conspiracy against us, it will also face the consequence," Bandyopadhyay cautioned.

PTI