CBI failed to frame charges within 75 days of his arrest
Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Srinjoy Bose. (Photo: PTI/File)
Kolkata: In a major blow to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Trinamool’s Rajya Sabha MP Srinjoy Bose, a key Saradha chit fund scam accused, was granted bail by the Alipore court on Wednesday within months of his arrest. He is the first high-profile accused and a leader of the ruling party to get bail.
Considered to be close to Trinamul supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Mr Bose is also the editor of popular Bengali daily Sambad Pratidin and Trinamul mouthpiece Jaago Bangla.
While granting him bail, district and sessions judge Samaresh Prasad Chowdhury of the Alipore court imposed three conditions on him. The first condition bars Mr Bose from leaving the country. The next two are: Mr Bose will not intimidate the witnesses and will have to appear before the CBI, whenever summoned for questioning.
The judge has asked his lawyers to submit a registered surety of '50,000 and a cash deposit of Rs 50,000 to obtain the bail.
The court’s order came as the CBI failed to frame charges against Mr Bose within 75 days of his arrest on November 21 on charges of criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of funds and deriving undue financial benefits in Saradha Realty case even after filing its chargesheet in the same case before the additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM).
Though Mr Bose faced interrogation in the CBI custody, since December 1, he spent the days of his judicial custody at SSKM Hospital, complaining illness. To oppose his bail prayers, the CBI counsels told the court that he might influence evidence if granted bail. But, the investigators are yet to submit any supplementary chargesheet tagging his name in Saradha realty case.
Mr Bose’s lawyer Sanjoy Dasgupta said, “The ACJM did not take the cognisance of Section 409 in the CBI chargesheet. As a result, the quantum of punishment of the section comes down to seven years from life imprisonment with the scope of bail to the accused after 60 days of his arrest. Besides, no charges have been framed against Mr Bose while the CBI earlier had told the ACJM that he cooperated in the probe.”
( Source : dc )
Next Story
