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A CBI team from New Delhi will arrive in Assam on Tuesday to initiate investigations into duping cases reported against chit fund companies in Assam, reports K Anurag
Senior Assam Cabinet Minister Dr Himanta Bishwa Sarma has vehemently denied having any links with the scam-tainted Saradha Group. The group’s chairman Sudipta Sen was arrested on charges of duping investors across India.
The minister reacted to allegations by Sudipta Sen in his letter to the CBI that Sarma had taken money from Saradha group. Sen also alleged that the minister’s aides signed vouchers on behalf of the minister.
Dr Sarma stated that he had sent a legal notice to Saradha Group Chief Sudipta Sen on the baseless allegations made against him. The minister said he would file a case against Sen if the latter failed to reply to the legal notice in time.
It was reported that as per Sudipta Sen’s letter to the CBI, Dr Sarma had taken about Rs 3 crore from Saradha Group.
Regarding his presence at the inauguration of a biscuit factory owned by the Saradha Group at Dhubri in western Assam, Dr Sarma said he had gone to the inauguration of the biscuit factory at the request of editors of two popular local dailies in Assam which had entered into a business deal with Saradha Group.
Meanwhile, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity, led by RTI activist Akhil Gogoi has demanded ouster of Dr Sarma from the Assam cabinet.
Sudipta Sen’s letter reportedly alleged payment to three private TV channel owners in Assam and a senior Congress legislator. All of them have denied the allegation, calling it baseless.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said that his government could not take action against anyone on the basis of mere allegations. “The allegations have to be proved through proper investigation for taking action,” he said.
A CBI team from New Delhi will arrive in Assam on Tuesday to initiate investigations into duping cases reported against chit fund companies. The CBI team headed by a joint director rank officer is coming to the state at the request of the Assam home department.
There are a total of 222 cases registered in various police stations in Assam against 128 chit fund companies and other non-banking financial companies operating in Assam.