A court in Kolkata has rejected the interim bail plea of Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Srinjoy Bose, arrested by CBI in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam case, and remanded him to four days police custody.
Chief Judicial Magistrate (in-charge) P Pradhan of Alipore court remanded Bose to police custody till November, 26, 2014 and ordered periodic medical check-ups by a senior doctor of any government hospital.
CBI had prayed for seven days' police custody.
Bose told the court that he was a patient suffering from high blood pressure and back pain and he was unable to lie on the floor of police lock-up.
Bose's counsel Ashok Mukherjee pleaded that the accused was suffering from ailments like diabetes, hypertension, spondylosis and had also undergone a bariatric surgery.
He prayed that the accused by sent to state-run SSKM hospital for medical examination in support of his claims and also an interim bail.
Mukherjee also argued Bose was in no way connected with the dealings of the Saradha Group and his company Sangbad Pratidin was a mere service-provider in terms of news content and programmes to Saradha group chief Sudipto Sen-owned TV channel for which a fee was charged.
Money paid to Sangbad Pratidin was in cheque and tax was also given by the company to the government.
The prosecution counsel argued huge money was given to Sangbad Pratidin by the Saradha Group raised through various schemes, out of which a substantial portion was diverted.
He said the investigation was at a crucial stage and custodial interrogation was required.
Image: Trinamool Congress MP and businessman Srinjoy Bose being produced at a city Court by CBI officials in connection with multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam, in Kolkata. Photograph: PTI Photo