Saradha scam: Is the West Bengal transport minister evading CBI?

Kolkata: West Bengal transport minister Madan Mitra who has been served summons by the CBI to appear before it for questioning in the Saradha scam case, got himself admitted on Thursday to the state-run SSKM Hospital, after he complained of shortness of breath.

"He complained of dyspnea or shortness of breath after which we admitted him," SSKM director Pradip Mitra told PTI.

The minister was earlier admitted to the private multi-speciality Belle Vue clinic from where he was discharged earlier on Thursday.

The special crime branch of CBI, probing the Saradha chit fund scam case, has already served summons to Mitra to appear before the agency officials for interrogation.

Mr Mitra was known to be close to the Saradha chief Sudipta Sen who is now behind bars. There are videos clips of Mr Mitra profusely praising Mr Sen at a meeting of Saradha agents.

Besides Mitra, CBI has also served summon to TMC Rajya Sabha MP Srinjoy Bose to reappear before the agency.

Meanwhile, West Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi said that no inference should be drawn simply because the CBI had summoned someone for an investigation.

The Governor said this when asked to react on CBI summoning West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra for questioning in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam.

"Someone has been called (by CBI) and because of that no inference should be drawn," the Governor said on the sidelines of a function here.

"Let the agency (CBI) discharge its duty and let it function properly. A part of the investigation is to call people and try to know the facts from them," Tripathi said.