Start Saradha scam trial after all those involved are booked: Kunal Ghosh

Kolkata: Suspended Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh on Wednesday prayed before a city court that trial in the Saradha case should not be started till all the people involved in it are apprehended.

Stating it was not just a case of law but also had political ramifications, Ghosh claimed before metropolitan magistrate Arvind Mishra that a lot of influential people were involved in the scam.

It would not be possible for him to get justice unless all those involved were apprehended before the trial commenced, Ghosh argued.

Ghosh also prayed to the court for a direction to the CBI for speedy completion of investigation in the matter.

Ghosh, who has taken the names of a number of Trinamool Congress leaders accusing them of having benefitted from Saradha, alleged in the court that Assam Pradesh Congress committee president and former state minister Anjan Dutta had benefited monetarily from Saradha Group.

Dutta has already been quizzed by CBI in connection with the scam.

The former CEO of Saradha Group's media arm claimed that he was cooperating with the CBI all along.

Ghosh stated he had admitted to having received money from the Saradha Group, but those who played behind the scene and had brought Saradha chief Sudipta Sen to media business should also be tried.

Ghosh had refused to take the prison van while being brought to court from Presidency Correctional Home seeking similar treatment for all accused. He alleged that one or two accused in the Saradha scam were being given small vehicles for the travel from jail to court and back.

He said that he had been assured by a deputy commissioner of police that similar treatment would be ensured.

Ghosh said that apart from similar treatment in terms of vehicles, he also wanted that he should not be "pushed around by policemen" while entering the court and that his family members should be allowed to meet him.