Saradha scam: Madan Mitra's bail prayer rejected by local court

Kolkata: A city court on Friday rejected the bail plea of West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra, who was arrested by the CBI for alleged complicity in the Saradha chit fund scam.

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alipore Court, rejected the bail prayer of the minister who is in jail custody since December last.

Mitra's counsel Baishyanor Chattopadhyay submitted that he had been in CBI custody and subsequently judicial remand for 131 days and that a charge sheet had already been submitted in the case by the CBI.

He stated before judge Haradhan Mukhopadhyay that a supplementary charge sheet had also been filed in connection with the case and that it did not contain anything fresh on Mitra.

As such there was no need for his further detention and hence the minister be released on bail, his counsel submitted.

The CBI counsel opposed the bail prayer claiming that Mitra was a very influential person and that investigation could be hampered if he was released on bail.

Mitra is undergoing treatment at the state-run SSKM Hospital and was as such not produced before the court.

Mitra's counsels had yesterday withdrawn a bail prayer that was pending before the Calcutta High Court and moved a fresh bail plea before the ACJM's court today. The Alipore court had earlier rejected his bail plea in February.