Mamata 'biggest beneficiary' of Saradha scam: Kunal Ghosh

Suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh on Monday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was the biggest beneficiary of Saradha Media, an arm of the Saradha Group embroiled in a multi-crore chit fund scam, during his deposition before a city court.

"If anyone has derived most benefit from Saradha Media, then it is the chief minister," Ghosh told metropolitan magistrate Arvind Mishra when he was produced at the Bankshall Court in Kolkata.

Saradha Media ran a number of newspapers and news channels before closing down in April, 2013 after the scandal came to the fore. Kunal Ghosh was the chief executive officer of Saradha Media.

Ghosh, who fell foul of the Trinamool Congress leadership following his outbursts against a section of it, reiterated his allegation that "Mamata Banerjee and (party general secretary) Mukul Roy are also involved."

"I have specific information, I can provide this if I am questioned by the CBI," he claimed.

Stating that one of the grounds on which his bail prayers have been opposed by the CBI everytime is that he was an influential person and that he could tamper with evidence and influence witnesses, Ghosh said, "For those who have political power and money there are one set of rules, and for him it is different.”

Referring to arrested state Transport Minister Madan Mitra being admitted to state-run SSKM Hospital after he was sent to judicial custody, Ghosh said without taking his name, "I am in jail, while someone else is in a hotel."

Mitra was arrested by the CBI in the Saradha scam case on December 12 and was in its custody till December 19. He was remanded to judicial custody on that day and was admitted to hospital on the same night after he complained of chest pain.

Image: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee