Saradha scam: Accused Bengal minister Madan Mitra resigns

Claiming that West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra, accused in the Saradha chit fund scam, is still functioning as a cabinet minister despite his house confinement, the CBI today pleaded before the Calcutta High Court to cancel his bail. The TMC leader had got a bail in this case by an Alipur court on October 31. CBI counsel, K Raghava Charyulu said that Mitra’s “influence was all pervasive” and that he could “tamper with evidence”.

According to sources, Mitra’s resignation was accepted by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who forwarded it to Governor K.N. Tripathi.

With the resignation being accepted the CBI will not have a strong pitch to make regarding his influential status while arguing for the cancellation of his bail.

The move came hours after the CBI, seeking cancelation of his bail, pointed to a division bench of the Calcutta High Court about Mitra continuing as a state minister despite being indicted and jailed in the multi-crore-rupee scam.

The CBI counsel raised questions on the lower court order granting Mr. Mitra bail pointing out that what was the change in circumstances which led lower court to allow his bail when the High Court had earlier rejected his petition.

The counter the CBI argument, Mitra’s counsel had contended that his client had resigned past year but the same had not been accepted.