ED may explore legal options against painter Suvaprasanna

The Enforecement Directorate, probing the multi-crore Saradha ponzi scam, might explore legal options as painter Suvaprasanna contined to skip appearing before the department's officials despite being served with summons.

The ED had sent summons to the painter, considered close to ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, for the second time to seek clarification on the business deal he had entered into with Sudipto Sen, chief of Saradha group.

"We have sent summons to Shuvoprasanna the second time to seek explanation from him about the exact nature of the financial transaction with Sudipto Sen regarding sale of his shares of a TV channel," a source in the ED told PTI.

The source said "the department may explore legal options as per Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as summoned persons are bound to appear in person or send some authorised agents".

The first action the ED may take is to impose a penalty on Shuvoprasanna.

"If he fails to pay the penalty, the department has the power to arrest him," the source said.

The ED had earlier interrogated his wife during the course of the investigation.

Image: Painter Suvaprasanna