Share

Saradha scam: Mitra surrenders after High Court cancels bail

After 324 days of captivity in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam, Madan Mitra was granted conditional bail from Alipore Court on Oct 31.

Advertisement

Mitra surrendered before the Alipore court after the news was telecast and even before he received the copy of the court order. 20 PM for the 22-web page High Court order. Delivering its order, a division bench of Justices Nishita Mhatre and Tapash Mookherjea directed Mr. Mitra to surrender before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alipore, on receipt on the order.

Mr. Mitra, an accused in the multi-crore Saradha scam, was granted bail by a lower Court on October 31, almost 11 months after his arrest.

The court order evoked mixed reaction from political parties.

Citing his capacity to influence as a cabinet minister, the CBI had yesterday argued before the court that he could tamper with evidence as investigators were trying to find out the money trail.

Mamata had earlier refused to accept the resignation sent by Mitra soon after he was arrested by the CBI previous year.

Contending that the bail granted by the lower court was illegally passed, the counsel pleaded to the bench to cancel his bail.

The main contention of the CBI was that they wanted his custody for questioning while also vehemently arguing that Mitra staying out on bail would mean the tampering of evidence and intimidation as he was a very influential person.

Within hours of the order, Mitra, who resigned as transport minister yesterday on the advice of his legal team, turned up at the ACJM court to surrender.

With the court ordering cancellation of bail, Kapoor requested that Mitra be allowed to remain in house confinement on medical grounds and sought a week’s time to surrender.

The opposition welcomed the court verdict.

Advertisement

Kapoor said the agency did not appeal against the cancellation of the bail given to co-accused Sandhir Agarwal, who was also granted the relief on the same day as Mitra.

Madan Mitra